A number of fires in Sechelt over the past week have sparked concerns of a serial arsonist at work, but investigators are not convinced.
Acting Fire Chief Trevor Pike wants the community to feel at ease and know that the investigations are being handled with due diligence.
"The three house fires are definitely being treated as suspicious and the boat fire is being treated as suspicious but is not directly related to the others," Pike said.
Sgt. Stuart Falebrinza said the RCMP has a person of interest in the investigation into the three house fires set on July 12, on Sechelt Band lands, but no charges had been laid as of press deadline. The investigation of the commercial fishing boat in Sechelt on July 22 is ongoing. In this incident, a 20-metre boat was destroyed in Selma Park around 1:30 a.m. The fishing boat had been sitting up on blocks in the parking lot of the Selma Park boat launch for more than a year.
In light of all the recent fire activity in the Sechelt area, Pike is urging the public to go easy on the amount of water they are using and said that the Coast is very close to being put under a fire ban because of the long spell of hot and dry weather we've been experiencing.
He said it is imperative to use as little water as possible so that reservoirs are always full if the fire department needs to suddenly use it as they did with the forest fire in East Porpoise Bay July 10.
"Water restrictions are very important to ensure maximum capacity in our reservoirs," he said.
Pike also said people should keep fire pits to three metres in circumference or less and to have water buckets full and close at hand. He also made a reminder that backyard burning in the District is not allowed and bylaw enforcement should be alerted to anyone doing so.
The Coastal Fire Centre is also asking area residents to be careful.
"There is still no ban, but the danger rating is high," said Breanna Carey with the Coastal Fire Centre.
Carey said people must prepare before they even start their campfires by having hand tools such as a shovel or spade and a water bucket ready. She said people should build their fires in designated pits or, if making a pit, put it in a rock-confined area.
When dousing the fire, something that should always be done before leaving the scene, Carey said to make sure the area is saturated with water, stirred up to make sure all coals and embers are out and that the pit is cool to the touch of your bare hand.
If you are looking for fire ban information before setting out on an excursion, call 1-888-3-FOREST (367378) or see www.bcwildfire.ca.
