SURREY RCMP announced on Wednesday that a male suspect has been arrested following a suspicious residential fire in the Cloverdale area on Wednesday morning.

On April 3, at approximately 1 a.m., Surrey RCMP received a report of a structure fire at a residence in the 5800-block of 191A Street. Witnesses observed a male running from the area and slashing vehicle tires with a knife as he fled. The fire was extinguished by bystanders prior to police and fire attendance, limiting the damage to a garage door at the front of the residence.

Surrey RCMP frontline officers attended the residence and confirmed the well-being of the occupants inside. Officers also located evidence consistent with a possible arson. With assistance from Police Dog Services and Langley RCMP, a suspect was located nearby in the 19100-block of 59th Avenue. The 25-year-old male suspect from Surrey was arrested without incident and taken into custody.

This incident is still under investigation and the suspect remains in custody. No charges have been laid at this time. Investigators believe this to be an isolated incident between individuals known to each other and there is no further risk to the public.

Anyone with further information is asked to contact Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502 or, if they wish to remain anonymous, CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or www.solvecrime.ca.