Fires were set to two businesses in Haney on Jan. 6, and police are continuing to investigate what they believe was an arson that could have easily caused the death of two people.

Police are looking to identify two men of interest and are seeking assistance from the public.

The men, described as Caucasians in their early 20s, were seen running west on Lougheed Highway, away from the fire.

One of these young men is taller with scruffy dark facial hair, longer dark hair, wearing baggy clothing, possibly blue jeans, and a dark red puffy jacket.

The other man was about five-feet-eight-inches tall, with short black hair, blue jeans and a blue jean-like jacket.

Around 4 a.m. Friday, Jan. 6, two adjacent businesses were damaged when fire was set to both Pyrgos Greek Taverna and Sports Traders, which are in the 22500 block of Lougheed Highway in Maple Ridge.

The fires were discovered shortly after they had been set by an on-duty RCMP officer who saw the fires and called the fire department.

Officers were able to put out the two blazes with fire extinguishers before the fire trucks arrived.

"Ridge Meadows RCMP were at the right place at the right time around 3: 50 a.m. on Jan. 6," Ridge Meadows RCMP Sgt. Dale Somerville told The TIMES.

"With tenants living above these buildings, this fire could have been very serious, or even deadly," Somerville said.

"It's very disturbing," said George Nikolopoulos, a member of the family that owns Pyrgos Restaurant. "You don't know what's going on any more," he said.

Nikolopoulos was surprised that something like this could happen on a busy road like Lougheed Highway.

Anyone with information in regards to a crime is asked to contact Ridge Meadows RCMP at 604-463-6251. To remain anonymous call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or leave a tip online at www.bccrimestoppers.com.

smclaren@mrtimes.com