Calgary police identify and charge arson suspect after 2 house fires in Varsity

Calgary police have identified a man they believeto be responsible for two arsons in the community of Varsity earlier this year.

Dominik Wesley Bird, 24, has been chargedwith two counts of arson with disregard for human lifeand one count of illegal use of a credit card.

A warrant has been issued for his arrest.

The first fire happened just after 3 a.m. on May 18. The Calgary Fire Department was called to a house fire in the 1100 block of Varsity Estates Drive N.W.

According to police, acollection of security camera videos showed a man setting fire to a residential shed before fleeing the area. The fire spread to the garage and house.

Police believethe man had been car prowling in the area prior to setting the fire.

Investigators said they believe the same man was involved in a secondfire that was reported around 5 a.m.on June 4in the 1200 block of Varsity Estates Road N.W.

He may have been car prowling in the neighbourhood before the fire was set, police said.

Investigators believe Birdhas ties to Calgary and Winnipeg and are asking the public forhelp to locate him.