P.E.I. fire officials are crediting increased police and firefighter presence, as well as poor weather, for fewer incidents on the Island this Halloween.
The fire department in O'Leary responded to six calls Saturday night, but none of them was serious, Chief Ron Phillips said.
A few hay bails were set on fire, and crews fought a minor fire at the dump, he said.
Last Halloween, a fire was set at the community's produce plant and 60 round hay bales were lit close to some farm buildings.
Phillips said he believes a stronger RCMP presence had a lot to do with the drop in calls.
In the village of Tyne Valley, Fire Chief Lowell Palmer said he was amazed his firefighters had only one call — a blaze that destroyed a vacant house in nearby Mount Pleasant.
Last year, his department had 15 calls, including five fires at vacant houses.
Palmer said the high winds and rain that started around midnight might have helped.
Tignish only had a few minor calls, Chief Claude Dorgon said. Some leaves were set on fire in the village, and there was a small tire fire on Western Road near the community of St. Peter and St. Paul.
Coming home from that incident, the fire crew noticed people setting flames to a vacant house on Route 2, Dorgon said.
In Mimnegash, crew put out three debris fires on roads near St. Edward. Chief Leo Deagle said he thinks patrols by volunteer firefighters helped keep some of the mischief in check.
Patrols paid off in Alberton, Chief Kenny Ramsay said. They found three piles of gasoline-soaked tires on a road before culprits had a chance to light them.
