North Vancouver brush fires deliberately set, say fire officials
Neighbours vigilant after up to ten small blazes set behind homes in green belt
Police in North Vancouver are searching for an arsonist who lit at least 14 brush fires along a forested trail on Wednesday, in many cases in the forest just beyond some homes.
"The police will be out all night making patrols and I understand the fire department will also be making patrols through all the trails," said Corp. Doug Trousdell with North Vancouver RCMP.
About a dozen fires were first detected on Wednesday morning along a one-kilometre section of the Hastings Creek trail. Several more fires were detected in the evening.
Officials say it's clear the fires were caused by humans, pointing to paper and a beer cans found at the scene.
Resident Kirsten Bell, who lives near Ross Road Elementary School, could see the smoke curling up from just behind her fence.
"It's a bit unsettling, to say the least, to have somebody intentionally setting fires, when such a crisis is already underway," said Bell.
"My neighbour has a hose and a sprinkler pointed at the fence to keep it away from their house and keep the area damp."
CBC