Emergency responders were called to a fire at a weigh scale on Highway 97 North in Prince George around 10 p.m. on Saturday, July 19. The flames were coming from the Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement (CVSE) office on the site.
Local police confirmed that evidence suggests the fire was deliberately set. It marks the second suspicious blaze at a weigh scale in the area within seven months.
According to investigators, the recent incident shares striking similarities with a previous fire that took place on December 24, 2024, at the Highway 97 South weigh scales.
Constable Jenna Moore, spokesperson for the Prince George RCMP, said the fire may be connected to the December incident. In both cases, orange spray-painted graffiti was found nearby. This time, it was spotted on a sea-can container and read, “good job McCreadie,” echoing the same phrase found at the earlier scene.
Police suspect arson and are continuing to investigate both incidents. They are urging anyone who may have dash camera footage from that night to contact them. Drivers who were on Highway 97 near the weigh scale before 10 p.m. are asked to review their footage and report any unusual activity.
Investigators are particularly interested in vehicles or people seen near the CVSE office in the moments leading up to the fire. Anyone with relevant information is encouraged to call the Prince George RCMP non-emergency number at 250-561-3300 and refer to file number 2025-22656.
The fire has sparked concern from the B.C. General Employees’ Union (BCGEU), which represents CVSE workers across the province. Union president Paul Finch expressed serious concern over safety risks on the job.
Finch noted that CVSE officers have long reported threats and violent actions aimed at their vehicles and work locations. Though no staff were present at the time of the recent fire, the BCGEU says this kind of threat is not new.
“Our union has warned about the dangers CVSE officers face every day,” said Finch in a statement. “This latest incident highlights how urgent it is for the government to improve safety and support for these workers.”
The union is already working with provincial officials to improve conditions. An independent risk assessment is currently being planned, but Finch stressed that more action is needed now.
He added that the BCGEU is committed to working with the government to expand safety efforts and make sure frontline staff feel secure.
The repeat targeting of weigh scales has raised wider questions about the risks faced by transportation enforcement officers. While the motive behind these fires remains unclear, both incidents have caused concern for public safety and infrastructure protection.
Authorities are treating the fire as a criminal act and continue to gather evidence. Community members are being asked to stay alert and help by reporting any suspicious activity near weigh stations in the region.
For now, the Prince George weigh scale remains closed due to fire damage, and investigators are working to determine how the incident occurred and who is responsible.
