Trio charged with arson in Abbotsford condo blaze
By Rochelle Baker – Abbotsford News [British Columbia]
Published: July 22, 2008
Three suspects have been arrested and charged with arson in connection to the fire that reduced a section of Abbotsford condo complex to ashes last Tuesday.
Danielle Toplass, Jason Read and Angela Arkesteyn-Vogler are each facing three counts of arson for the blaze that destroyed a four-storey building under construction at The Crossing real estate development in the 33500 block of Marshall Road.
The three were arrested sometime over the weekend by Abbotsford Police.
The fire also badly charred a family home immediately next to the development, leaving a single dad and his three kids homeless.
Damage from the fire is estimated to be in the millions of dollars.
Flames from the blaze shot more than 30 metres into the night sky and could be seen by residents all over the city.
Radiant heat of the fire was so intense it cracked windows of the Gateway professional building along Marshall Road.
The Tempo condominium complex opposite on Holland Avenue also suffered damage to its windows and doors.
Trees, telephone and hydro poles, and shrubbery along the Marshall just west of McCallum were completely scorched.
Residents from surrounding apartment buildings, homes and businesses were evacuated – some until the early hours of the morning.
More than 100 firefighters from all seven of the city’s firehalls were called out.
Mission and Chilliwack fire departments were put on alert to cover the area.
No residents were hurt in the blaze, but four firefighters suffered injuries.
The only thing remaining of the structure was the charred concrete block elevator shaft rising up from blackened beams.
One- and two-bedroom units at The Crossing were being pre-sold and advertised on the Internet, ranging from $160,000 to close to $278,000.
The complex was advertised to be ready by fall. Phase one and two of the project were already sold out.
As many as 1,300 other area residents lost telephone service after the fire burned two cable lines.
The three suspects are scheduled to next appear in Abbotsford provincial court July 24.
Confrontation 
Sentenced for setting fire to The Crossing
Arsonists sent to jail
By Rochelle Baker – Abbotsford News
Published: January 19, 2009
Two of three individuals accused in an arson that reduced a section of The Crossing condo development to ashes have been sentenced in Abbotsford provincial court.
Danielle Toplass and Angela Arkesteyn-Vogler each faced one count of arson, one count of arson endangering life, and possession of incendiary material in the blaze that razed a four-storey building under construction in the 33500 block of Marshall Road on July 15.
Charges against the third suspect in the fire, Jason Read, were stayed on Friday.
Toplass pleaded guilty to all three charges against her and was in effect handed a two-year sentence minus 12 months or double credit for six months already served.
Arkesteyn-Vogler also pleaded guilty to the two arson counts and got 18 months jail time minus the 12 months she was credited.
Both women – sentenced on Jan. 8 – also got a year’s probation.
Crown counsel Rob Macgowan said the two women were handed sentences comparable to those given in other arson cases.
Court heard that, on the night of the fire, Jason Read purchased $5 worth of gas at around 10 p.m. at a local gas station.
Read’s truck and the trio were later witnessed in a parking lot of an apartment building near The Crossing.
Toplass was then seen leaving the parking lot on foot with a pop bottle of gas that had been transferred from a jerry can.
Read and Arkesteyn-Vogler left in the truck soon after.
Following their departure, emergency services began receiving reports of the blaze at the condo complex.
According to facts admitted by Arkesteyn-Vogler in court, the two women entered the construction site and went up to the third floor of the partially completed wood-frame building.
Toplass splashed gas around the structure, and Arkesteyn-Vogler set the fire with a lighter before the pair fled the building.
Flames from the blaze shot more than 30 metres into the night sky and could be seen by residents all over the city.
The fire left a single dad and his three kids homeless after it charred their home located next to the development.
The radiant heat was intense enough to crack the windows of the Gateway professional building across the street.
Abbotsford Fire Rescue was forced to evacuate residents from surrounding apartment complexes, homes and businesses.
More than 100 firefighters from all seven of the city’s stations were called out.
No residents were hurt in the blaze, but four firefighters suffered minor injuries.
The only thing remaining of the structure was the charred concrete block elevator shaft rising up from blackened beams.
Damage estimates immediately after the fire were predicted to be more than $9 million.
Rudy Loewen, president of Palcor and Eastland Developments, which is constructing The Crossing project, said all 63 of the units in the damaged building were pre-sold at the time of the fire.
The cost of the units ranged from $180,000 to $300,000, he said.
The three suspects were arrested within a week of the fire being set.
The two women sentenced were not forthcoming about why they set the fire, said Macgowan.
Crown has no evidence as to why the arson was committed.
“Neither accused indicated in any meaningful way what the motivation was,” he said.
“The point was made during sentencing that it was somewhat of a concern.”
Charges against Read were stayed after significant deliberation, Macgowan said.
When examining a case, Crown must decide there is a substantial likelihood of conviction or stay the charges.
“Even if circumstances were suspicious, we are dealing with a standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt,” he said.
It was unusual to get positive results on a case in such a short time, said Macgowan.
“Often the justice system is criticized that its wheels turn very slowly, but in the space of six months we have two convictions for a serious arson.
“All the credit should go to police who made arrests within days, and also to the witnesses who immediately came forward and told police what they had seen.”