Residents have been permitted to return to their homes after the successful detonation of an explosive device discovered in a downtown Prince George, B.C. residence on Wednesday morning.
The device was uncovered during a search conducted under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act in the 1600-block of Eighth Avenue.
This discovery led to the evacuation of several nearby homes as RCMP awaited the arrival of their explosive disposal unit from the Lower Mainland to manage the device.
Local officers secured the area until the disposal team arrived at approximately 4 p.m. PT.
“They confirmed it was indeed an explosive device and handled its disposal safely. The investigation that led to the police presence is still ongoing,” stated Cpl. Jennifer Cooper, a media relations officer with Prince George RCMP.
She noted that once the device was disposed of safely, residents were allowed back into their homes.
A Prince George RCMP cruiser blocks off an alleyway behind Eighth Avenue on Wednesday. (Hanna Petersen/CBC)
Eighth Avenue is also the location where two residential fires occurred within days of each other earlier this week.
On Sunday morning, multiple fire crews responded to a residential fire in the 1600-block of the avenue shortly after 6 a.m.
Although no injuries were reported, RCMP assessed the damage to the residence at approximately $250,000.
A house in the 1600-block of Eighth Avenue is boarded up following a house fire on Sunday. (Hanna Petersen/CBC)
A second house fire on Eighth Avenue, this time in the 2100-block, was reported early Tuesday morning.
Prince George Fire Rescue mentioned that crews arrived shortly after 1:30 a.m. to find a single-story home completely engulfed in flames.
The house was unoccupied at the time, with damages estimated at $300,000.
While investigations are ongoing for both fires, Cooper remarked that there is currently no evidence suggesting any connection between the incidents on Eighth Avenue.
However, she urged community members to report any suspicious activities to the authorities.
“If you notice anything unusual in your neighborhood, such as suspicious activities or frequent visits from unfamiliar vehicles, please report those to the police. This helps us continue our investigations and potentially initiate criminal inquiries into any illicit activities,” she advised.
