Suspicious blast tears Sydney Mines house apart
New investigative unit to probe fires
Last Updated: Friday, November 6, 2009 | 10:45 PM AT
CBC News
Firefighters have battled six suspicious home fires in Sydney Mines this week. (CBC)Firefighters have battled two more suspicious house fires in Sydney Mines, N.S., raising the total to six in a week.
The latest fire broke out around suppertime Wednesday. It erupted with an explosion that moved walls off their foundation and blew the chimney from the small house.
Deputy fire chief Paul MacCormick said a firefighter suffered minor injuries.
"We had another one early Saturday morning who had an eye injury. But if we continue to have this number of fires, I'm concerned that someone could get hurt seriously — one of our firefighters or a neighbour or anyone walking by," said MacCormick.
The house where the explosion occurred is normally rented, but the tenants recently moved out.
Cape Breton Regional Police said neighbours reported seeing an injured man running from the home immediately after the explosion.
'I'm concerned that someone could get seriously hurt.'—Sydney Mines deputy fire chief Paul MacCormick
"We're still investigating, taking statements from witnesses," said Staff Sgt. John O'Rourke.
There were four fires attributed to arson in Sydney Mines on Oct. 30. Throughout the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, firefighters and police have dealt with 14 suspicious or deliberately set fires in the past two weeks.
New task force
Police met in Sydney Mines all day Thursday to set up a task force to prevent further fires.
The team of specialized police officers will spend the next month focusing on the suspicious and deliberately set fires in the municipality over the past six months.
"Right now, I've set up a 30-day window where we'll put a lot of resources into this endeavour," said O'Rourke. "The investigative group have a specialty so each member with a different specialty will take that task and exhaust the leads we have and any new leads."
Provincial fire marshal Bob Cormier said the unit is a good idea but must involve the fire service.
"They have to be an integral part of it," he told CBC News on Friday. "We are the experts in this particular field."
O'Rourke said the group will work closely with the local fire marshal's office. He said the success of the unit will be evaluated after a month.
