The Vancouver fire department is asking city residents to keep their eyes open for an arsonist who is setting trees alight in Stanley Park.

A helicopter pilot spotted a fire Wednesday morning while flying over the park and called it in, fire department Capt. Rob Jones-Cook said.

Captain Rob Jones-Cook of the Vancouver fire department said Wednesday that arson is now suspected to be the cause of two recent tree fires.
(CBC)

The fire was very similar to one on Sept. 16 inside the hollow trunk of an older tree, Jones-Cook said.

Firefighters quickly extinguished both fires, but investigators now believe the two fires were not accidents, he said.

"It was difficult to find the exact location of this tree. But we did find it and upon reflection and going back we believe the two recent tree fires in the park over the past week were intentionally set," said Jones-Cook.

He would not confirm or deny an accelerant was involved, but says a fuel pile was gathered to set the stumps on fire
 
Jones-Cook said the fire hazard in the park is low at this time but that any kind of fire is potentially dangerous.