CPS Alert: Arson Investigation Sparks Urgent Witness Appeal

CALGARY, AB — Calgary Police are hunting for witnesses in a fresh arson investigation, adding another case to a string of suspicious fires that have plagued the city over the past year.

The CPS Arson Unit is actively working the file, though investigators have not yet disclosed the specific location or extent of the damage. The Calgary Fire Department, which typically partners with police to determine fire origin and cause, is also involved.

The investigation comes as transit safety remains a hot-button issue following October 2025's municipal election, where candidates clashed over how to clean up the system. It's unclear whether this latest arson involves Calgary Transit property, but the timing keeps public safety concerns front and center.

The Pattern

This isn't an isolated incident. Calgary has seen a steady drumbeat of arson investigations since early 2025—an autobody shop torched in January 2026, a restaurant in December 2025, a deli and a vehicle both in July 2025. Each investigation chips away at both property and public confidence.

The City has already committed serious money to transit safety: a $15 million annual investment in the Public Transit Safety Strategy, plus a one-time $15 million last May to retrofit buses with driver separation barriers. By November 2024, the strategy had added 70 new transit peace officers, bringing the total force to 185. Council also amended Transit Bylaw 4M81 to give those officers sharper teeth.

The Money

CPS is operating on a proposed $613 million budget for 2026—a $59 million jump from last year—with a chunk earmarked for general policing and investigations like this one. Every arson case drains resources, whether through repair costs, insurance claims, or investigative hours.

The backdrop is messier than ever. TD Bank pulled the plug on its downtown free fare zone sponsorship in late 2025, forcing City Council to rethink a program critics say attracts social disorder. The move left a vacuum just as Mayor Jeromy Farkas and Premier Danielle Smith navigate the dual pressures of public safety and fiscal discipline.

What's Next

Police are asking anyone with information to come forward. No arrests have been announced. The investigation continues.