A person was captured on video surveillance lighting a building on fire at the Ever-Green Greenhouses Ltd. just east of Red Deer early Wednesday morning.
Now the owners hope someone will come forward with information leading to the arrest of the arsonist.
Co-owner Bryan Nelson said the suspect caused about $3,000 worth of damages to one of the 32 cold frames or greenhouses.
“They just walked in with a gas can and went into one of the cold frames or greenhouses and poured gas all the way down and out and there she burned,” said Nelson. “There is no question it was arson. We’re really getting tired of these guys in the country. It’s ridiculous.”
In the video, taken at 2 a.m., a person dressed in sweat pants and a hoodie marches into the site and pours a trail of gasoline near gas tanks and inside the building. The person is seen running after the fire is lit.
Nelson said in the last three years, there have been three incidents of gasoline theft and another fire.
This incident was one of the worst. The plastic, the benches and the front door will have to be replaced.
They have had vandals steal gas, pour it on the ground and light it.
Nelson said the culprit knew what he was doing because the video shows his handiwork, which took less than seven minutes.
Nelson said they have put up high fences with barbed wire tops to keep the vandals off the property.
He said there has never been enough information for police to find the suspects. He hopes by releasing the video to the public, the arsonist will be nabbed.
“Sometimes people recognize people,” said Nelson. “We’re going to do what we can to put it out there.”
The family-owned business has operated in the Red Deer County since 1979.
crhyno@www.reddeeradvocate.com