Police and fire investigators are yet to determine the cause of fire that destroyed the home and business of Tiwana family at Bashaw, a small Alberta town 136 kilometres southwest of Edmonton.
The investigators confirmed that there was graffiti damage to property but they did not comment to indicate if the mischief to property and motel fire is related in any way.
The local community has come forward to support the family.
“They’re good, they get along with everybody, and everybody liked them. They helped out whenever they could,” Connor Wein told Calgary Sun.
Wein went to junior high and high school with Prabvir Tiwana the youngest of two sons in the family that first arrived in town about six years ago.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Major Crimes Unit is assisting the investigation.According to Canada Police Report -The RCMP has confirmed that the graffiti damage to property located on the premises of the Bashaw Motor Inn contained a racial slur.
However, police have no information to indicate the mischief to property and motel fire are related in any way.
“The RCMP is taking the precaution of considering this to be a crime scene until proven otherwise,” they said in a press release.
“At this time, the RCMP will not speculate on how the fire may have started, or any of the evidence they may have collected thus far.”
RCMP will release more details later this week.
Anyone with information that might assist police in determining who is responsible for the Graffiti or what caused the fire is asked to call Bashaw RCMP at 780-372-3793.
Bashaw Motol Fire – Local community comes forward to raise funds for Tiwana Family
As of 3:30 p.m AEST Thursday, $9,020 had been donated on the GoFundMe Page. The goal is to raise $10,000.
“This page has been created as a way for community and others to create support for the family over the long months ahead. Their home was completed destroyed and their lives forever altered. We offer our prayers and love to the Tiwana family as well.” GoFundMe.
