New arson team to probe Cape Breton blazes
Last Updated: Saturday, November 7, 2009 | 1:44 PM AT
CBC News
Two people were left homeless after fire was set to this mobile home in Sydney Mines on Oct. 29. (CBC)Cape Breton Regional Police have formed a special investigative unit to solve a recent rash of arsons in the area.
Firefighters fought two suspicious fires and five arsons in the past week, including four in one night.
In the last six months, there have been at least 30 suspicious fires, and two firefighters have been injured, fire officials said.
The new team of specialized police officers will spend the next month focusing on solving those cases, Staff Sgt. John O'Rourke said.
"Right now, I've set up a 30-day window where we'll put lots of resources into this endeavour," he said.
'This community is a good community, and we want to keep it that way'—Staff Sgt. John O'Rourke, Cape Breton Regional Police
"The investigative group [members all] have a specialty, so each member with a different specialty will take that task and exhaust the leads we have and any new leads. And at the end of the day, [hopefully] we can identify the responsible persons.
"This community is a good community, and we want to keep it that way."
String of fires
The latest fire, in Whitney Pier on Oct. 31, started with an explosion so powerful it blew windows into the neighbouring yard and moved the home off its foundation.
That same day, a fire destroyed a barn in Glace Bay and an apartment fire in Glace Bay gutted three vacant units.
On Oct. 30, emergency crews responded to three house fires in Sydney Mines. Two of the homes were destroyed.
No one was injured in those blazes, but some area residents said it's only a matter of time, and they supported the idea of the new investigative unit.
Provincial Fire Marshal Bob Cormier said he also believes the special unit is a good idea, but he said the fire service must be involved.
"We are the experts in this particular field," he said.
O'Rourke said the unit will work closely with the local fire marshal's office.
At the end of the 30-day period, the success of the unit will be assessed and police will decide how to proceed, O'Rourke said.
Anyone with information on the cases is asked to call police or Crime Stoppers.
