Police didn’t admit it at the time, but now blame tear gas cannister they deployed for starting blazePublished Jul 28, 2026 • Last updated 2 hours ago • 2 minute readPolice are admitting they accidentally started a house fire with a tear gas cannister during a standoff in Bilijk (Kingsclear First Nation) in spring last year – something they didn’t and wouldn’t acknowledge at the time. Photo by SUBMITTED/RCMPPolice are admitting they accidentally started a house fire with a tear gas cannister during a standoff in Bilijk (Kingsclear First Nation) in spring last year – something they didn’t and wouldn’t acknowledge at the time.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERSSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the e-Edition, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalism and the next generation of journalists.SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the e-Edition, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalism and the next generation of journalists.REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESCreate an account or sign in to keep reading.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite journalists.THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsArticle contentMichael Christopher Sabattis is accused of firing at police from inside a house on Tomahawk Avenue, striking an officer in the head, and several RCMP vehicles. The officer didn’t suffer any major injuries as he was wearing a ballistic helmet, according to RCMP.Sabattis is facing 15 counts of attempted murder, 15 counts of discharging a firearm, three counts of criminal harassment, two counts of assault and two counts of aggravated assault. His trial is scheduled to begin on May 3, 2027.In a news release issued on April 16, 2025 – the day after the incident – police didn’t say anything about the house catching on fire, only noting that “members of the Upper Kingsclear Fire Department and the Department of Justice and Public Safety also attended the scene.”“This was an extremely dangerous situation that had the potential to result in significant injuries and even loss of life,” Sgt. Stephane Esculier of the West District RCMP said in the release. “The phenomenal police work executed by our general duty members, specialized units and the Fredericton Police Force allowed this situation to come to a successful resolution with no physical injuries sustained by frontline officers.”Article contentWhen asked recently whether police had any role in the fire, Cpl. Luc. Picard sent a statement.“The blaze that occurred in the residence involved in the armed standoff in Kingsclear First Nation on April 15, 2025, was an unintended result of an approved police operational tactic after many other options were exhausted, and officer safety became a concern,” Picard said. “This particular fire was not set deliberately.”Brunswick News then asked how many times police have deliberately set fires in standoff situations, and what the “intended result” was.Picard responded by apologizing if his first response was unclear, and then stated: “To clarify, the purpose of the tactic used was to safely bring the subject out of the residence and resolve the situation without injury.“As part of an approved police operational tactic, a chemical agent (tear gas) was deployed. The device ignited after landing inside the residence, resulting in a fire. We are not aware of any instances in New Brunswick where police have intentionally set a fire as part of an operational response. National headquarters has confirmed that the incident in British Columbia was the only known occurrence.”Documents presented in a case in British Columbia’s Supreme Court revealed that police there had intentionally lit a fire after a man had barricaded himself inside a house and opened fire at police.No information about the Bilijk fire, or how it started, was provided at the time. At least one media outlet, CBC, directly asked police about the fire but reported that it didn’t receive a response.Bilijk chief Justice Gruben didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.More to come … Article content
EXCLUSIVE: Cops accidentally started fire during N.B. standoff
