Last year, on April 20th, a Ukrainian family of five living in a heritage house at 1112 Caledonia Avenue, awoke to someone pouring gasoline through their front door’s mail slot.
The fuel was set on fire and the front door and upper level were quickly engulfed in flames.
All five members escaped. One through a ground level door, three lept from a second story window and one had to be rescued by ladder.
One person suffered severe burns as a result of the blaze.
The house is well over a century old and was a piece of Victoria’s history designed by former Victoria mayor John Teague. He’s the same architect behind City Hall, according to the Victoria Heritage Foundation.
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Nearly a year later, on April 5th, 2023, VicPD’s Major Crime Unit made an arrest in this horrific case of arson.
Police say Walter ‘Theo’ Machinski of Nanaimo is now being charged with one count of arson with disregard for human life.
Machinski is being held in custody to appear in court.
According to police, the arson was not targeted toward the family because of their Ukrainian heritage; however, investigators did determine that Machinski was known to the family.
The family is asking for privacy in the matter as this fire has caused them a significant amount of turmoil over the past year.
Police say further details about the investigation cannot be shared as the matter is now before the courts.
— with files from Ethan Morneau
