The Nanaimo RCMP is asking anyone who may have witnessed a suspicious fire in Bowen Park on the morning of Sunday July 26, 2026, to contact police.

City of Nanaimo Fire and Rescue responded to a report that two very large trees had been set on fire. The trees were located adjacent to the pedestrian walking path near the park entrance off Riverside Drive. Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire, preventing it from spreading further.

Police attended and observed two trees that had been significantly damaged by the fire and detected a strong chemical odour in the area. Investigators conducted a canvass for witnesses, surveillance footage, and potential evidence; however, no suspects have been identified, and no witnesses have come forward.

"Had it not been for the rapid response of Nanaimo Fire Rescue personnel, this fire had the potential to spread and cause significant damage to nearby parkland and vegetation," said Inspector Donovan Tait, Operations Officer for the Nanaimo RCMP.