British Columbia

Suspect's pants caught fire during B.C. arson attempt: RCMP

Police in Metro Vancouver say they're looking for a man whose pants caught fire in an alleged arson attempt that went wrong.

RCMP shares photo showing 2 men, 1 with pained expression as he reaches for his flaming pants

Two men, one on the ground with a pained facial expression as he reaches for his blazing pants, while the other man apparently tries to put out the flames.
Richmond RCMP shared a photo of two suspects showing one man whose pant leg is ablaze and another trying to help him put out the flames. (The Canadian Press / Richmond RCMP)

Police in Metro Vancouver say they're looking for a man whose pants caught fire in an alleged arson attempt that went wrong.

Richmond RCMP shared a photo showing two men, one on the ground with a pained facial expression as he reaches for his blazing pants, while the other man apparently tries to put out the flames.

Police say officers responded to an alarm at a business on April 24, finding a broken window and a small fire directly in front with evidence it had been set intentionally.

They say surveillance video subsequently revealed two men wearing masks had approached the business, and one of the suspect's pants caught fire in the incident.

Mounties say "the pants continued to burn" despite the suspects' efforts to put the flames out, and the mask worn by the man on the ground came off in the scramble. 

Police say there is a "high probability" he sustained injuries to his lower body. The man is described as white, between 40 and 50 years old, with a medium build and long, slicked-back, dirty blond hair.

The second suspect is described as being in his late 20s to early 30s, with a medium or tanned complexion and an athletic build.

A man in dark clothing, with a red logo on his hoodie.
One of the suspects in the attempted arson. (Richmond RCMP)