More suspicious fires cause serious concern for forestry officials

Officials with the Department of Natural Resources are expressing concern over several new brush fires last week at various locations on the Avalon Peninsula. Each of the fires is suspicious in nature and is under investigation by forestry officials who are asking for the public�s assistance in their efforts to determine responsibility for the fires.

On Thursday, May 5, at approximately 11:30 p.m., fire fighters from the community of Victoria and forestry officials with the Department of Natural Resources from Heart�s Content responded to a fire in Victoria. The fire burned an area of approximately 1.5 hectares before being extinguished.

Another fire earlier the same day is also under investigation. It involved a suspicious cabin fire taking place near the community of Mobile. In this case a cabin fire spread to a surrounding wooded area where it burned an area of about 30 metres by 10 metres.

On May 1, the Victoria Volunteer Fire Department responded to three fires near the area known as the Old Track. As a result of the quick response by fire fighting personnel each fire was quickly brought under control. Each fire burned an area less than 50 square meters.

A previously reported a brush fire took place near the community of Gooseberry Cove on April 26, which burned an area of about two hectares, also remains under investigation.

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 crime.

The public are reminded that anyone found responsible for starting a wild fire, either a forest or brush fire, may face fines up to $1,000 and may also be liable for the cost of fighting the fire and for any resulting damage the fire may have caused.

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

2005 05 09                            11:50 a.m.