NLIS 3
April 20, 2005
(Natural Resources)
 

Department seeking information on suspicious fires

The Department of Natural Resources is requesting the public�s assistance to help determine what caused two suspicious brush fires in the Conception Bay North area on Monday, April 18.

The fires were located near the communities of Freshwater and Salmon Cove on the Bay de Verde Peninsula and burned a total area of approximately six hectares. Both fires occurred within three kilometres of each other. Officials are unsure if they are related but the causes are suspicious in nature .

Forestry crews responded from Paddy�s Pond, Whitbourne and Heart�s Content and were backed by a helicopter with a bambi bucket from St. John�s and firefighters from the Carbonear, Victoria and Salmon Cove fire departments.

Deliberately set wildland fires are of particular concern on the Avalon Peninsula. Last year on the Avalon Peninsula 58 per cent of the fires, or 31 out of 53 fires, responded to by forestry officials were either deliberately set or were suspicious in nature.

Officials are asking the public to be vigilant this year and report any information that would aid in the investigation of forest fires to forestry officials. Information can be reported to the Paddy�s Pond forestry office at (709) 729-4180 or by contacting 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 this and/or any crime.

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

2005 04 20                         10:35 a.m.