Skip to content

Complaint alleges RCMP could have prevented fire

A Teslin RCMP officer is accused of failing to prevent arson after a clear warning that it would happen, according to the arsonist’s family. Jena McClements arrived home intoxicated at 5 a.m. last Friday and started a fire while her mother slept in the house.

A Teslin RCMP officer is accused of failing to prevent arson after a clear warning that it would happen, according to the arsonist’s family.

Jena McClements arrived home intoxicated at 5 a.m. last Friday and started a fire while her mother slept in the house, said her sister, Francis McClements.

The fire department extinguished the small blaze and no one was injured. The only damage appeared to be scorch marks on the floor and water from the fire hose.

But as the commotion died down, Jena gave out a vocal warning.

“Jena told the fireman that she was going to start a fire again,” said Francis.

The firefighter then told the RCMP officer at the scene.

“He said, ‘She’s not going to do it again, she’s fine,’” said Francis.

But she did.

“Everyone left the scene, including the RCMP, and they left Jena where she had just started the fire and almost killed my mother, and she lit up the fire again,” said Francis.

During the second fire, Jena dumped oil in the two-storey log house, said Francis.

Their mother wasn’t in the house this time. She had left after the first fire with her two dogs. Two cats remain unaccounted for.

Francis has filed a complaint with the Public Complaints Commission for the RCMP and with the Yukon’s main detachment in Whitehorse, she said.

“I’m not saying I’m not holding my sister responsible for lighting the fire – that’s not my point,” she said. “My point is why would you leave a person who just committed arson and who just attempted murder at the scene of a crime?”

Jena is currently at the Whitehorse Correctional Centre.

She has been charged with arson with damage to property and has a court date today.

Contact James Munson at jamesm@yukon-news.com