Police in Surrey say they think someone intentionally tried to set fire to an urban forest, raising concerns of arson at a time B.C. is facing extreme wildfire conditions.
Surrey RCMP confirmed late Tuesday it was seeking witnesses after officers found multiple fires burning in the northwest corner of Green Timbers Urban Forest Park, one of the city’s largest parks.
Officers patrolled the area finding “several small, actively burning fires,” police said.
The fires have since been extinguished. Now, the detachment’s arson coordinator is working with Surrey Fire Service to find out what started the blazes.
“Initial observations suggest that the fires were intentionally set, however further investigation is required,” noted RCMP Cpl. Vanessa Munn in a written statement.
Munn added that police are increasing patrols in the area and are seeking anyone who sees any suspicious activity or captures video surveillance to report to Surrey RCMP immediately at 604-599-0502.
The suspected arson of the urban forests comes as B.C. faces its most destructive wildfire season on modern record. By July 18, more than 1.4 million hectares of land had burned across the province.
The good news, according to BC Wildfire Service director of operations Cliff Chapman, of the 392 wildfires burning Tuesday morning, only 22 had been human-caused.
