REGINA – Generally, the majority of structure fires in Regina are accidental, but fire marshal Randy Ryba called the past four months an “anomaly”.
Since Nov. 1, 2015 Regina’s Fire Department has responded to 53 structure fires, meaning a home, garage, shed, etc. Of these 53 fires, 27 have been set intentionally.
Ryba said they don’t know what’s causing the spike, but they aren’t complacent about the threat.
“It puts our citizens at risk first and foremost, and it puts our firefighters at risk when we respond to a call for service,” he said.
“We don’t always know what’s in that garage in a back alley, or wherever it may be.”
Ryba said he isn’t aware of any civillian injuries, but there was a close call involving a firefighter on Jan. 21, 2016.
READ MORE: Firefighter avoids serious injury after falling through floor battling Toronto Street fire
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Firefighters were called to a fire at 1763 Toronto Street, and one of them fell through the floor on the second storey. The firefighter only sustained minor injuries. It was the second suspicious fire at that address that week.
Many of the intentional fires have been set in the Core Ritchie neighbourhood and North Central. Despite this, many residents are not too worried.
“I wouldn’t say I’m too concerned, but also suspicious fires aren’t good either so I’m glad they’re looking into it,” Core Ritchie resident Caitlyn Howe said.
However, some have seen things that drew concern.
“You see a bunch of little kids with nothing to do, and all the garbage left in the dump sites created in the back yards, you know they just set them on fire,” said a North Central resident who didn’t want to be identified.
“They just go to abandoned houses because they’re there, you know?”
In the same time frame the Regina Police Service have launched 43 arson investigations. This number includes more than just structure fires, and includes some that are in progress.
Fourteen people have been charged, including eight minors and six adults.
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