Man charged with arson in series of Melville fires

A string of fires caused significant damage in Melville this weekend, and a 44-year-old man has been accused of setting them.

According to the RCMP, a call came in around 8:45 p.m. on Saturday night about a gunshot heard at a home on the 600 block of 4th Avenue West in Melville, near Prince Ruppert Street. Then police got another call, saying that home was on fire.

Over the next few hours police got four more calls about buildings on fire.

One was at another home on the opposite end of Melville, on the 800 block of Scotia Street, near 8th Avenue East.

The rest were in rural areas – one involving a barn and a shed, one in an abandoned home, and another involving grain bins.

In all incidents except the home on Scotia Street the buildings were significantly damaged.

No one was in any of the buildings at the time, and no one was hurt in the fires.

Early Sunday morning police arrested Michael Hahn, 44. He’s charged with intentionally causing damage by fire, breaking and entering with intent to commit an offense, breaking and entering, five counts of arson, use of a firearm in the commission of a crime, careless use of a firearm, and possession of a firearm for a purpose dangerous to the public.

His first appearance in court on these charges was Monday morning.