The victim of an arson has been left homeless and penniless.
Police are investigating the fire that destroyed a mobile home on Farrell Street, and while they won't go so far as to declare it an arson, it definitely has their attention.
It is also the subject of a dinner and dance at Alfredo's Pub on Friday night. The homeowner, Natalie Hayman, will be the beneficiary of the event.
"My sister was over at a friends house that night, thank goodness, but she lost everything. We've given her some basic stuff to get her back on her feet, but she didn't even have a toothbrush," said Nicole Meier, the victim's sibling and the event's organizer.
Donations are being gathered of cash, silent auction items and other assets to help Hayman rebuild. According to Meier, the mobile home had recently had a wood stove installed but was not yet approved for insurance, so there was no coverage when the flames roared through at about 3:30 a.m. on Oct. 16.
The heat also cooked some of the building features of the mobile home next door, owned by Meier's and Hayman's mother, but there was insurance for that residence.
"It's going to cost thousands just to remove the trailer, and that's all on Natalie," Meier said.
Meanwhile, police are sifting through the clues at the site.
"It is suspicious in nature and the investigation is ongoing," said Prince George RCMP spokesman Cpl. Craig Douglass. "The officers are carrying out tasks on this and the file is not at all closed, which means we still have avenues to go down. That work is being done by investigators."
Although there have been several fires of suspicious nature in the city over recent weeks, Douglass said this one "appears to have no evidence of association with any other fire."
Tickets for the dinner and dance are $20, available in advance at Alfredo's Pub. For donations or information contact Meier at 250-562-5501 or 250-552-3583.
