New Westminster police arrest man after tennis club fire

A man has been arrested after the New Westminster Tennis Club along Royal Avenue was seriously damaged in a fire last week.

According to Assistant Fire Chief Isabella Li, firefighters were called to the tennis club just after 10:20 p.m., and they responded with five trucks.

“Upon arrival, there was heavy smoke and flames coming from the building. Crews were able to conduct a quick transitional fire attack by knocking down the flames from the exterior and progressing to an interior attack, limiting the damage to the building,” Li said.

The fire was put out just before 12:15 a.m. Friday.

“The two-level structure suffered extensive damage to the interior and the exterior. Fortunately, the structure was not occupied at the time of the fire, and so there is no injuries to report,” Li added.

In an update Tuesday, the New Westminster Police Department said a man was arrested Saturday without incident.

Police say a suspect was identified, and the man was arrested with the help of community members.

“In this case, a call regarding suspicious activity near an underground parking garage led us to an arrest in connection with the fire investigation. That tip made all the difference,” said Sgt. Andrew Leaver.

A banner on the club’s website says its clubhouse and courts are unavailable until further notice.