RCMP in downtown Prince George, B.C., have permitted residents to return home following the safe disposal of an explosive device discovered during a Controlled Drugs and Substances Act search in the 1600-block of Eighth Avenue. The device’s detection led to the evacuation of nearby residences until the RCMP’s explosive disposal unit arrived from the Lower Mainland. Local officers maintained security until the disposal team arrived at approximately 4 p.m. PT.
Cpl. Jennifer Cooper, a media relations officer with Prince George RCMP, confirmed the device as explosive and assured its safe disposal. The initial investigation remains ongoing. Once the device was handled safely, residents were allowed back into their homes.
Earlier in the week, two house fires occurred on Eighth Avenue. The first fire, on Sunday, caused an estimated $250,000 in damage to a residential structure in the 1600-block. The second fire, on Tuesday, engulfed a single-story home in the 2100-block, causing an estimated $300,000 in damages. Despite ongoing investigations, there is currently no evidence linking the incidents.
Cpl. Cooper advised residents to report any suspicious activities to the police, emphasizing the importance of alerting authorities to any unusual behavior in their neighborhoods for further investigation.