Young arsonists suspected in Thetis brush fire
View Royal firefighter Scott Cadwallader hoses down a brush fire above Thetis Lake Sunday evening.
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Updated: July 01, 2009 11:13 AM
Three young boys are suspected to have deliberately started a brush fire at Thetis Lake park Sunday evening.
View Royal fire Chief Paul Hurst said at least one witness saw a small group of kids lighting dry brush on rocky areas high above the lake and then bolt from the park.
“There is no reason for fire to start at the park unless it's human-caused,” Hurst said. “It’s absolutely disappointing behaviour.”
A witness snapped photos of the boys, thought to be 10 to 12 years old, Hurst said, which were turned over to the West Shore RCMP.
Insp. Mark Fisher confirmed police have a photo of one possible suspect taken by a person at the park. Police are trying to identify who is in the picture to determine if they are linked to the fire, he said.
Fisher said the photo will be circulated among the department. He wasn’t certain if Mounties would canvas local neighbourhoods. “Thetis draws people from such a wide area,” Fisher said.
The fire was called in about 6:30 p.m. June 28 by a View Royal firefighter’s wife walking the trail. About 15 firefighters hauled hoses and gear about 90 metres up to a rugged cliff area overlooking the lake.
More than half a hectare was charred black of mostly small trees, grasses and moss. High humidity, fire breaks from trails and low wind helped slow the spread of what was already fast moving fire, Hurst said.
The same area had been hit by firebugs a few years ago, resulting in a reduced fuel load for the latest fire, he said. It's the first brush fire of the year for the park.
“The conditions were in our favour,” Hurst said. “Later in the year and it would have been a whole different outcome. It would have burned to the top of Seymour Hill.”
The fire was under control before 8 p.m., but Capital Regional District parks staff stayed on scene overnight, mopping up hotspots.
Anyone with information can call the West Shore RCMP at 250-474-2264 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
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