Man charged following Shelburne County wildfire investigation pleads guilty

The man who was charged following an investigation into the historic wildfire in Shelburne County, N.S., last year pleaded guilty to one of the charges in court in Barrington on Wednesday.

Dalton Stewart, 23, pleaded guilty to a charge under the Forests Act of leaving a fire unattended when it was not completely extinguished.

Stewart was not in court. His lawyer, Philip Star, entered the plea on his behalf before Nova Scotia provincial court Judge James Burrill.

Star said his client was admitting to lighting a fire in the forest that he was not permitted to light.

"What is left to be disputed, and the subject of a sentencing hearing in Barrington provincial court, is what ensued as a result of that fire being lit," Star said.

Star stressed Stewart was not admitting to lighting the Barrington wildfire that began in late May last year, burned more than 23,000 hectares, destroyed about 60 structures and led to thousands of people being displaced from their homes.

The Crown and defence are now working on an agreed statement of facts they expect to be completed before the next hearing in January.

Stewart is facing two other charges under the Forests Act, but Star said those might not proceed now.

The fire forced Samantha Crowell from her Clyde River home for 10 days. She said Stewart's one guilty plea doesn't change much for her.

"I guess I look now and think it happened and we're just dealing with the aftermath of that as far as insurance and ensuring people are housed and property is repaired and whatnot," Crowell said.

"I don't think it provides me with any real comfort that he pleaded guilty."

Crowell said she understands how other people who lost more would be more upset. She said her son goes out with his axe and chainsaw and continues to clean up the fallen trees and dead wood on her property.