EDMONTON – Just days after a massive fire brought down a trestle bridge on the northwest edge of Mayerthorpe, fire crews and RCMP are dealing with a new wave of suspicious blazes.
According to Mayerthorpe Fire Chief Randy Schroeder, there have been five suspicious fires set since early Friday morning.
One was a fire in an industrial area while the other four were grass fires.
No injuries were reported at any of the fires and Schroeder told Global News RCMP are now investigating all the fires.
On Tuesday, the local fire department said crews had been called for 17 fires in the area over a period of just six days. Also on Tuesday, Mayerthorpe RCMP confirmed officers were called in to investigate five fires over the past 10 days.
Fire investigators and CN Rail authorities are still working to determine the cause of an enormous fire at a local trestle bridge which started at 1:20 p.m. Tuesday.
The CN Rail line, which stretches from Edmonton to Smoke Lake (near Fox Creek), runs through the town of Whitecourt. Without the trestle bridge, rail service to the community will be put on hold.On Friday evening, Mayerthorpe RCMP said they’re working with CN Police as well as both the Edmonton and Whitecourt General Investigative Sections to investigate the fires and any possible connection between them.Anyone with information is asked to contact the Mayerthorpe RCMP at 780.786.2291 or to call Crime Stoppers.With files from Caley Ramsay.