Police say a fire that gutted the home of B.C. Lt.-Gov. Steven Point early Sunday morning on the Sto:lo First Nation reserve was arson. Police say a fire that gutted the home of B.C. Lt.-Gov. Steven Point early Sunday morning on the Sto:lo First Nation reserve was arson. (CBC)

Police say a fire that gutted the private home of B.C. Lt.-Gov. Steven Point early Sunday morning was arson.

RCMP spokesman Cpl. Peter Thiessen said Point and his family were not at their home on the Sto:lo First Nation reserve in the Fraser Valley city of Chilliwack, and firefighters who responded to the call suspected immediately it was intentionally set.

"Further investigation indicated that yes, it certainly was suspicious; in fact it was clearly arson," Thiessen said in an interview.

Thiessen said police can't yet release details that support their conclusion but said they have clear evidence that points to arson.

The fire caused considerable heat and smoke damage inside the home and little is salvageable, Thiessen said, but the structure is intact.

Sto:lo Grand Chief Clarence Pennier said a relative of one of his staff members saw the burned home.

"One of my workers, her cousin went over and figured that they had started fires around the house," he said.

Police are interviewing neighbours. Point's wife, Gwendolyn Point, came to the fire scene to talk with police.

"She's visibly shaken and upset and is attempting to assist us as well in regards to any possible motive and what information she can provide to help us move forward," Thiessen said.

Some 20 investigators, including First Nations RCMP officers who work on the reserve, are working on the case, he said.

Pennier said he's puzzled that the Points' home would be the target of an arsonist.

'Pretty strange'

"It's pretty strange anyway to have somebody do that to him," Pennier said. "He's well respected and he's one of our spiritual people, too.

Steven Point became B.C.'s first aboriginal lieutenant-governor in September 2007.Steven Point became B.C.'s first aboriginal lieutenant-governor in September 2007. (Courtesy of the office of the lieutenant-governor)"He helps a lot of people. I can't understand it either."

While Point is often away, Gwendolyn Point and other family members are usually there, Pennier said.

"His wife is home more than him, and their daughter is regularly over there taking care of the house," Penner said.

Point, a lawyer, former provincial court judge and former Grand Chief of the Sto:lo Tribal Council, was appointed British Columbia's first aboriginal lieutenant-governor in September 2007 on the advice of Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Before his appointment, Point was head of the B.C. Treaty Commission.

Point has four children and 11 grandchildren.