At least one suspect was identified by police as being criminally responsible for the fire at Victoria Towers. The Prince George apartment building was effectively destroyed by the smoke from the blaze on Nov. 3.
"After a long and thorough investigation, investigators submitted a lengthy report to Crown counsel in late February," said Prince George RCMP spokesman Cpl. Craig Douglass. "After consideration, Crown counsel has opted not to pursue charges."
The base criteria Crown insists on for approval of any given criminal charge is a likelihood of conviction, but details were not provided by police. Calls to provincial Crown's spokesperson were not returned in the short time available before deadline.
About 100 people living among 60 suites were left homeless when the building caught fire. It was the largest group ever to require the activation of the city's emergency response program. A massive effort took place in the weeks following to gather donated furniture, clothing, bedding, and alternate housing for the victims.
The building has remained closed and condemned since the fire, with no firm reopening date disclosed. The owners of the property, Pacific West Properties, has never made a public statement or answered any calls by media since the fire.
