Accident – Death – Obituary News :

Nicole Kwiatkowski Remembers Her Father, Believed to Have Set Fires on Gunn Avenue

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article includes discussions on suicide and distressing themes.

In the aftermath of the devastating house fire on Gunn Avenue, the daughter of the man believed to be responsible for the blaze has spoken out about her father’s struggles leading up to that fateful night.

The fire, which occurred on the evening of October 4, was initially reported by Mission firefighters who had extinguished a fire in a nearby vacant building. Upon arrival at the scene, they discovered multiple areas intentionally set ablaze, including an outbuilding and a garbage pile.

Inside the house, authorities were aware of a man who was armed and possibly in distress. Following the evacuation of the area overnight, it is believed that the man deliberately set the house on fire while still inside, according to a report from Mission Fire Chief Mark Goddard.

Mission RCMP has confirmed that an investigation is ongoing, although no other suspects are being sought.

Recent revelations shed light on the struggles faced by the man behind the fire, now identified as 67-year-old Bruce Alexander Kwiatkowski. Kwiatkowski was evicted from the property the day before the fire, adding a layer of complexity to the investigation.

Nicole Kwiatkowski, Bruce’s daughter, recalled receiving a phone call at eight o’clock in the morning, asking if she had heard from her father. The previous night, she had spoken to him, offering him a place to stay with her family.

On the day of the fire, Bruce Kwiatkowski took to Facebook (now Meta) to express his frustration with the eviction and the landlord, citing a variety of concerns.

“They have ruined my retirement and my life,” read his post.

According to Nicole, the police informed her that her father had set fire to the outbuildings and every vehicle on the property to attract attention. She also mentioned that he had sounded disoriented during their last conversation.

Upon arriving at the scene, the Mission Fire Rescue Service immediately ordered the evacuation of the area. Firefighters retreated to a safe distance, leaving behind all equipment, including the fire engine.

By four o’clock, social media posts indicated that a second fire was occurring, likely when Bruce set the house ablaze. The police had informed Nicole that they were unable to access the property due to booby traps set up by her father, a characteristic behavior of his.

The public was urged to stay away from the area and refrain from sharing the locations of emergency responders on social media.

“This was a challenging situation for both the fire and police personnel at the scene. It was evident that the fires at 31061 Gunn Avenue were intentionally set, but the hazards on the property hindered the ability of first responders to safely access the residence upon their arrival,” stated Mission RCMP Cpl. Harrison Mohr in a statement to the Mission Record.

“As a result, the response by first responders had to be strategic and cautious to prevent endangering the lives of others.”

Nicole Kwiatkowski revealed that the police visited her home that night to inform her that they suspected her father was in the house during the fire but were unable to access the room. The following day, they discovered Bruce’s body.

According to Nicole, the combination of the eviction, issues with the landlord, and a recent breakup with a woman he met through a truckers’ convoy Facebook page pushed her father to commit the arson acts.

“He just had a complete mental break, I guess,” she said.

Days later, while going through her emails, Nicole found a message from her father sent on the morning of the fire. The email contained his iPhone password and bank card number.

“At the end, he said ‘love you,’ which I found very strange,” she added.

She also discovered a lengthy email that her father had written to his ex-girlfriend, expressing his love for her.

Reflecting on her father’s recent years, Nicole described his rough time. Bruce was a retired mechanic who moved to Gunn Avenue in 2022 after living in Aldergrove for several years.

“He moved into his dream house, essentially. I remember him always showing me photos and how much he loved that house. It had a pond, and he loved the wildlife,” Nicole reminisced.

After the eviction, Nicole had offered her father a place to stay, but he could only bring essential belongings due to his tendency to hoard items, particularly car parts.

Bruce Kwiatkowski had a history of prior incidents with the police and faced criminal charges. He also had a record of receiving care in hospitals for mental health-related issues.

Expressing guilt, Nicole regrets not being able to help her father more when he begged for assistance. She emphasizes that mental health issues can manifest in various ways and unexpectedly.

She cherishes her memories of going on A&W dates with her father.

If you or someone you know is in crisis or considering suicide, please call the Crisis Centre BC suicide hotline at 1-800-784-2433.

Other resources include the Canada Suicide Prevention Service at Toll-free: 1-833-456-4566. You can also text 45645 or visit the online chat service at crisisservicescanada.ca.

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