By Grant Warkentin
RCMP are looking for help from the public to find the culprits who started several fires in the protected forest along Dogwood Street last week.
On June 2, a cyclist in the Beaver Lodge Lands saw smoke at around 2:45 pm, and contacted the fire department. Two fires were located and extinguished west of the North Island College and Timberline Secondary School campuses.
“Police and Ministry of Natural Resource investigators spent significant time combing the fire scene after Campbell River Fire had extinguished the ground fires which had taken hold in the roots of the trees,” says a statement from Campbell River RCMP. “Police are now reviewing evidence left at the scene.”
Two days later, at around 11:15 am on June 4, the fire department was called to extinguish several fires in the forest behind the Homalco Medical Centre, which is located on the Homalco First Nation reserve on the south side of Jubilee Parkway.
“These fires are also under investigation and are believed to have been intentionally set,” police say.
This isn’t the first time arsonists have tried to start fires in the Beaver Lodge Lands – in fact, it’s almost been exactly one year since their last attempt, when the fire department had to respond to multiple fires in the lands last June, near the South McPhedran Road trailhead and parking area (featured image).
“The fire department would like to remind community members to call 911 right away if they see smoke or fire in the forest, and to report any suspicious activity to the RCMP. We all need to be responsible when accessing the outdoors in order to keep our community safe,” said Fire Chief Kelly Bellefleur.
The Campbell River RCMP Police are looking for information and possible dashcam footage and are asking anyone that may have noticed suspicious activity in the Beaver Lodge area at the time of the fires or in the Homalco area at the time of those fires call the Campbell River RCMP at 250-286-6221. Or, if they wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Featured image: Crews respond to fires set in the Beaver Lodge Lands on June 14, 2025. Photo by Grant Warkentin
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