More deliberate fires on Avalon Peninsula concern forestry officials

The Department of Natural Resources is seeking assistance from the general public to help determine the cause of a brush fire at Gooseberry Cove on Tuesday, April 26.

This is the fourth brush fire that forest firefighting crews on the Avalon Peninsula have had to respond to since April 18. The fire, which burned three hectares, took forestry crews from Whitbourne approximately two and a half hours to bring under control. An investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing. However, upon initial assessment, officials believe that it was deliberately set and are seeking assistance from the general public who may have information about the incident.

Meanwhile, a man from Ferryland has been charged under the Forestry Act in connection with a fire that occurred in the community on April 24. Specifically, he was charged with failure to make every reasonable effort to prevent a fire from spreading. The man was reported to have been burning grass when the fire went out of control. As a result, volunteer firefighters and forestry crews had to be called in to extinguish the fire.

Also, conservation officers are continuing to investigate two brush fires that occurred near Salmon Cove and Freshwater on April 18. Officials have received several tips from the general public through Crime Stoppers and are in the process of investigating the information.

Deliberately setting wild fires is of particular concern on the Avalon Peninsula. Last year on the Avalon Peninsula 58 per cent of fires responded to by forestry officials were either deliberately set or were suspicious in nature. Anyone with information about any of these fires can call the Paddy�s Pond forestry office at (709) 729-4180 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477). Crime Stoppers will pay up to $2,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of individuals involved in these and/or any crimes.

Media contact: Carmel Turpin, Communications, (709) 729-5282, 685-4624

2005 04 29                                    11:10 a.m.