Regina Fire and Protective Services says two recent house fires in the city were deliberately set, and fires in two garages remain under investigation.
The fire department said on June 29, crews dealt with four blazes between the hours of 12:30 a.m. and 5 a.m. There were two garage fires and a house fire in the North Central neighbourhood, and a house fire in the Heritage area.
Investigators have determined the house fires were arson.
“We’ve seen a significant increase in intentionally set fire behaviour throughout parts of our city in recent months,” Chief Layne Jackson said in a media release. “Residents are urged to exercise caution by doing everything they can to keep their homes safe from deliberately set fires.”
The department offered some tips to homeowners, including keeping rollout bins in a secure location away from buildings, keeping combustible material like lumber, tree cuttings, upholstered furniture and mattresses away from the perimeter of properties, using LED lighting to illuminate backyards, and locking back gates if that’s an option.