A rural Manitoba family was startled from their sleep in the middle of the night when they discovered their car engulfed in flames.
The incident, believed to be a random act of arson, has left the family shaken and desperate for answers.
The entire incident was captured on live surveillance camera footage, revealing two suspects pouring a flammable liquid on the parked vehicles before setting them ablaze.
The suspects then fled the scene in a nearby truck, leaving the family completely unaware of the danger just outside their home.
Fortunately, no one in the family was injured, thanks to the timely intervention of strangers, neighbors, and first responders.
The lingering smell of burnt rubber serves as a chilling reminder of how differently the situation could have ended.
The family’s son managed to capture the incident on video at around 3 a.m.
on Monday in Saint Andrews.
The footage shows the suspects dousing the vehicles with liquid before igniting them.
The family, fast asleep at the time, was awoken by the sound of people banging on their door at 4 a.m.
Had they not been alerted, the house could have been engulfed in flames as well.
The family, including three young children, quickly evacuated the house to find one of their cars completely consumed by fire.
Thankfully, a neighboring resident sprang into action and moved his own car away from the flames.
The family watched in shock as the fire spread, eventually resulting in a massive fireball shooting into the sky.
The car was completely destroyed, while the SUV suffered significant damage from the intense heat.
The car owner, Brayden Hopkins, expressed his confusion and disbelief, as he has no knowledge of the individuals captured on the surveillance footage and cannot fathom why anyone would target his family.
While the investigation is ongoing, the RCMP is concerned by the incident and its potential for tragedy.
They are appealing to the public for any information that may help identify the suspects.
In the meantime, the family finds themselves without any vehicles and facing substantial deductibles amounting to thousands of dollars.
As they navigate this challenging situation, they are unsure of their next steps.
The family’s ordeal serves as a stark reminder of the need for vigilance and community cooperation in the face of senseless acts of arson.
The RCMP hopes that by sharing this story with the public, they can bring the perpetrators to justice and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
