A Saanich man who was arrested a year ago in connection with two fires that were deliberately set in Saanich, was sentenced to five years in prison today.
Steve Pickering, 57, deliberately started the two fires about a month apart from each other.
Pickering, pled guilty to setting the fire inside the Home Depot store on Shelbourne St in April 2016. It is believed he entered the store and started the fire in the paint department.
He also pled guilty for the massive fire on Cedar Hill Road that occurred the following month. That fire destroyed a new townhouse complex near the University Heights Mall – which is within walking distance of Home Depot.
The new complex was completely destroyed.
Occupants from an adjacent townhouse complex were evacuated, and no one was seriously injured. Numerous people from the neighbourhood were displaced from their homes.
Pickering said he wanted to cause mayhem as revenge for Home Depot not hiring him. He later turned himself in so he wouldn’t do it again and people wouldn’t die.
He also said he wanted to reassure the public that an arsonist wasn’t on the loose.
The damage from both fires was estimated to be between $7 to $10 million.
