Man arrested after string of suspicious fires set along Nanaimo ParkwayRCMP say they’ve arrested an adult man in connection with multiple brush fires “that appear to have been deliberately set along the Nanaimo Parkway” on Monday.
The fires caused significant traffic disruptions in the area, but RCMP said there were no reports of injuries or buildings damaged by the fire.
In a media release, Nanaimo RCMP said they were called to the intersection of Northfield Road and the parkway just before noon.
“Police and Fire crews responded to multiple reports from witnesses that an unknown man had been seen setting fires along the walking trail that runs parallel to the Nanaimo Parkway,” RCMP said.
“While fire crews were dealing with the fires, numerous officers were actively engaged in locating this person.”
A suspect was taken into custody within about 30 minutes.
Fire crews have since extinguished the fires, which caused significant disruptions on the Nanaimo Parkway and Northfield Road.
As of Tuesday, the fire danger rating across Vancouver Island was classified as “extreme,” with BC Wildfire Service lead fire weather forecaster Matt MacDonald describing the situation as a “sleeping dragon.”