RCMP have decided against opening a mobile detachment in Tomslake, B.C., to help catch the person responsible for six pipeline bombings in the area since October 2008.

In August, RCMP said they would open a two-person detachment in the hamlet, about 30 kilometres southeast of Dawson Creek. Police believe the person responsible for the bombings lives in Tomslake.

While four members have been added for the area, RCMP have decided the temporary detachment would cost too much.

"Hydro. Some kind of heating system. Telephone," said Sgt. Darren Traichevich. "So we just felt it wasn't feasible at this time to proceed with that temporary detachment building."

Instead, the additional RCMP members will work out of Dawson Creek, a 30-minute drive away.

Natural gas pipelines operated by EnCana Corp. in the Dawson Creek area have been the target of six bombing attacks since fall 2008, with the latest taking place on July 1 and July 4.

In the summer, a person claiming to be the bomber sent a letter to the newspaper in Dawson Creek saying he or she was taking a three-month break from bombing to give EnCana time to consider shutting down its operations in the area.

Opinion split in community

Tomslake resident Ardyth Overholdt was pleased when she heard police were increasing their presence in the area. But she worries about what will happen if the bomber strikes again, now that plans for the detachment are on hold.

"By the time [police] all collect themselves together to come out, it's all going to be over and done with," she said.

Recently, Overholdt sent a letter to the Dawson Creek newspaper calling the bomber a terrorist, a bully and a coward.

That prompted Ed Pitt to send a letter of his own. Pitt says the oil and gas industry is pillaging the Peace Country, and he says he agrees with the message the bomber is trying to send.

"I think they're doing the right thing trying to bring attention to a problem," he said. "It would be nice if it could be done in a different way. The normal channels are absolutely useless."

However, Pitt said he wouldn't feel the same way if someone was killed in a bombing.

"I probably would not feel the same way. But there was never any danger to anybody. These were all apparently planned in a way so nobody would get hurt."

Last summer, EnCana doubled its reward to $1 million for tips leading to an arrest and prosecution in the bombings.

With files from Ann Sullivan