[BCMA] Arson attempt on 1865 Irving House in New Westminster Sunday 2011 Oct. 2 No damage done.

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.]

No damage was done. There was a failed arson attempt on the 1865 Irving
House (302 Royal Ave.) this Sunday morning Oct. 2 at approximately
midnight to 1 A.M. 

 

A neighbour who was walking their dog saw a person emptying a small
jerrican of liquid onto the porch on the East side of Irving House. The
witness immediately went home and phoned the police. NWPS responded
promptly. They recovered a black backpack and small red plastic jerrican
of about 5-litres size at the scene but the arsonist had fled without
igniting the gasoline and has not been apprehended at this time.

 

As the Museum Manager I was called out (my second callout tonight as we
had a minor problem on the Samson V Maritime Museum at supper time) and
the police waited at Irving House to brief me. I could smell gasoline
but none was visible as most of it had evaporated or drained away. I
remained on the scene for a couple of hours as a precaution and also
checked the interior of the Irving House. 

 

No motive or suspect is known to me at this time. There has been no
other arsonist activity in the area according to police. 

 

The Irving House is protected by sprinklers and is due to undergo a
sprinkler upgrade (Capital Project) this month.

 

City staff and volunteers are asked to keep an eye open if they are in
the vicinity of Irving House and to immediately report any suspicious
activity to the 

New Westminster Police Service 604-525-5411

 

The police file number is 11-18240. 

 

Colin MacGregor Stevens,

Manager,

New Westminster Museum and Archives,

302 Royal Avenue,

New Westminster, BC,

V3L 1H7, Canada

 

Phone Office:    604-527-4639

Work Cellular :  604-830-6965

Fax:                    604-527-4641

E-mail: cstevens at newwestcity.ca 

Web Site: www.newwestminster.ca 

Normal work week: Sun-Thurs 9-5, OFF Fri-Sat.

 

The New Westminster Museums and Archives (NWMA) consists of:

   * City's Museum (est. 1950)

   * City's Archives

   * Irving House (built 1865)

   * Samson V Maritime Museum (paddlewheel ship built 1937; museum since
1984) 

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