A house fire on Pelly Ave. in Russell destroyed the oldest home in the large Manitoba town. The brick home, designated as a Historic site, was built in 1888. Mayor of Russell-Binscarth, Cheryl Kingdon-Chartier said no one was living there at the time of the fire, since its current owners were from Austria and were out of the country at present.
Kingdon-Chartier said, “It’s really a shame. You cannot replace some of the history of these old homes.”
On Jan. 5, at approximately 11:00 p.m., RCMP responded to the fire call. As officers arrived, the fire department was at the scene battling the fire, but the house was, by this time fully engulfed in flames.
Just a couple of hours after that the apparent arsonist confessed to the crime, calling the 911 line at approximately 12:55 a.m. on Jan. 6. The 911 dispatchers received the call from a 22-year-old male who reported he was responsible for the house fire on Pelly Ave. He gave his location and officers found him to be in possession of a container, believed to be gasoline.
Liam Flett of Russell has been charged with Arson, Mischief and Break and Entering to Commit an Offence. He was remanded into custody. Russell RCMP continue to investigate.
