By The Canadian Press

Criminal charges possible after fire near county office outside Edmonton

Nov 8, 2018 | 4:42 AM

SHERWOOD PARK – Police say criminal charges could be filed after a fire and possible explosion led to the evacuation of several downtown buildings in a bedroom community just east of Edmonton.

Emergency crews were called to reports of a fire Tuesday evening at a complex that houses the Strathcona County office and council chambers in Sherwood Park.

County Mayor Rod Frank says fire crews immediately turned the scene over to the RCMP, but police aren’t saying what they found.

The community centre and library inside the complex, as well as two nearby schools and a performing arts centre, are all closed while police conducted their investigation.

Sharon Siga, the library’s director, says an explosion could be felt inside the building at the time of the fire, but library staff got out safely.

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RCMP Supt. Dave Kalist says investigators can’t release any details about what happened to protect the integrity of their work, but the situation is contained and the public is not at risk.