'People are scared:' Suspicious fires spark fear in Flat Bay

Residents of Flat Bay on Newfoundland's west coast are frightened and angry after a rash of fires that police believe were deliberately set.

"You don't want to wake up in the middle of the night in roaring flames. People are scared," said Shane Snook, who lives in the town just south of St. Georges.

The most recent fire destroyed a cabin on Nov. 22. 

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By the time RCMP arrived, it had burned to the ground.

The cabin had been completed the week before, and its owners have lost everything.

Police suspect arson.

RCMP said there have been five suspicious fires in the community since September — two homes, a vehicle, a community centre, and the cabin that burned Sunday.

"It's too much to be a coincidence," said Snook. "A lot of people are worried their home could be next." 

He said they are scared they may be targeted, and worried because Flat Bay, a town of 500, has no fire protection and no agreement with a neighbouring community that does have fire service.

"There's a lot of talk of people looking into security systems, security cameras, automatic fire sprinkler systems and things like that," said Snook.

"There is a lot of talk of how do we protect ourselves in the meantime."

RCMP told Here and Now Tuesday that officers are working with the major crime unit in Corner Brook to investigate the fires.  Officers are going door to door interviewing people to try to find clues to what's going on.