(River Bend Golf and Recreation Area/ newsletter)

By Ian Gustafson

July 23, 2025 Incident

RCMP investigating arson at River Bend Golf and Recreation Area

Jul 28, 2025 | 2:26 PM

Red Deer RCMP are investigating an arson fire at River Bend Golf and Recreation Area.

General Manager Rob MacPherson said an individual was caught on security cameras piling patio seat cushions against the wall facing north on the outside deck and lit them on fire at 12:45 a.m. last Wednesday.

“The building is still intact. Most of the damage was contained to the outside of the building but there was smoke damage to the inside,” MacPherson said.

He added, it was a random act and that the clubhouse is currently being cleaned up and should be operational later this week.

The kitchen has been closed since Wednesday, which has effected operations but the golf course has continued business as usual.

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The proshop was left unscathed and the kitchen has limited food and beverage options with sandwiches and drinks available.

Police responded to the call at 7:03 a.m. that morning and the investigation is ongoing.

City of Red Deer Emergency Services Deputy Chief Curtis Schaefer said they were called to the scene the same time as the police after course staff called 911 upon arriving to work.

Schaefer said the blaze had ran its course and extinguished itself throughout the night but a crew of one truck with four firefighters responded and confirmed the fire was out.

“We called out investigators and the RCMP as the fire was suspicious in nature,” he said. “It burned itself over night and that was probably why nobody noticed it at first because it didn’t create a huge flame.”