Arson blamed as former oilsands executive's home destroyed
Last Updated: Monday, January 12, 2009 | 12:47 PM CT
CBC News
This Edmonton house belonging to former Syncrude president Jim Carter was destroyed by a fire that police said was deliberately set on Saturday night. (CBC)The fire that destroyed the home of a former oilsands company executive on Saturday night was caused by Molotov cocktails, Edmonton police said Monday.
Nobody was in the home owned by former Syncrude president and chief operating officer Jim Carter, who retired in 2007.
"I just wanted to say that my wife and I are very deeply saddened by the loss of our home and our personal possessions," Carter said Monday.
"We are grateful that we were spared any injury in this incident and that nobody was hurt fighting the fire and putting it out."
Carter spoke to reporters briefly after touring the charred remains of the house.
Former Syncrude president and CEO Jim Carter speaks to reporters Monday near the charred remains of his Edmonton home. (CBC)A witness reported seeing four youths running from the area at the time the fire broke out, police said.
No motive has been determined for the attack, but there is no indication that the house was targeted by environmental extremists, said police spokesperson Patrycia Thenu.
"That will come out in the investigation. Right now that hasn't been confirmed at all," she said.
Damage is estimated at $850,000.
Molotov cocktails are improvised firebombs made by filling bottles with gasoline and setting them alight.
Share Tools
Latest North News Headlines
- Head of Nunavut Impact Review Board not re-appointed
- John Duncan, the minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, has decided against a recommendation by the Nunavut Impact Review Board to re-appoint its chair, Lucassie Arragutainaq. more »
- Cambridge Bay airport runway to be widened
- The airport runway in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, will be widened to meet safety standards, says Nunavut's deputy minister for Economic Development and Transportation. more »
- Rankin Inlet gets CanNor cash for port business plan
- Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, is getting almost $28,000 from the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency to put towards a business plan for a port. more »
- Yukoners need to change poverty perceptions, says report
- A new report on poverty in Yukon is calling for action from the territorial government. However, poverty activists are also calling for Yukoners to adjust their attitudes. more »
Top News Headlines
- Canadian woman continues tweeting her way to the top of Everest
- Sandra Leduc is taking a second run at Mount Everest's summit after a deadly storm forced her back down the mountain and killed four others on Sunday. The Canadian lawyer and government worker is tweeting her progress along the way. more »
- Employment Insurance review boards to be scrapped
- The federal government is scrapping two review boards used by people appealing decisions made about their employment insurance. more »
- Teens share bullying tales in confession booth
- Raw stories about bullying emerged when a video booth was set up inside a Quebec high school. more »
- Canada ending 'Buffalo shuffle' for visas, closing consulate
- The federal government is shutting the Canadian consulate in Buffalo less than two years after costly renovations, while dropping a requirement for visas to be renewed outside the country, CBC News has learned. more »
- Investigation finds 3 electoral violations in N.W.T. riding
- Iqaluit man pleads guilty to drug and sex offences
- Head of Nunavut Impact Review Board not re-appointed
- Yukoners need to change poverty perceptions, says report
- Whitehorse man appeals drunk driving conviction
- N.W.T. budget calls for $74M surplus
- N.W.T. commissioner's goals for the territory
- Nunavut communities seek cellphone service
- Winning lottery ticket sold in Whitehorse
