Nearly every Nanaimo Fire Rescue firefighter and piece of equipment were deployed to the scene, dousing several fires believed to be purposely lit. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

parkway arson

Top Stories of 2023: Quebec man faces arson charge after Nanaimo Parkway fires

Dec 22, 2023 | 2:56 PM

NANAIMO — Widespread smoke and an ever-changing fight saw local firefighters stretched almost to the limit in July

Multiple fires were apparently deliberately set along the Nanaimo Parkway, centred around Northfield Rd. on July 4, with nearly every firefighting apparatus in the City called to the scene.

The first fire broke out in tinder-dry brush just before 12 p.m. on the eastern side of the Parkway, quickly growing to roughly 20′ by 10′ in size. A second fire was then spotted across the Parkway behind the visitor’s centre with others being sparked by blowing embers.

“We have at least five fires behind me here and two more across the other side of the Parkway,” Nanaimo Fire Rescue Capt. Brian Cripps said on scene. “We had a witness come up to us and describe someone who was lighting the fires, the police currently have him in custody.”

Strong winds fanned flames over grass and trees on both sides of the Parkway.

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Despite countless homes and businesses in the immediate area, none were damaged and flames were quickly contained to the grass lands along both sides of the highway.

Smoke extended up and out from the fires, covering the surrounding area near the Northfield Rd. exit with the Nanaimo Parkway. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Nanaimo RCMP made an arrest a short time later by detaining Kevin Frank Macey-Girard, a now 36-year-old Quebec man.

Mounties, along with responding firefighters, were told a man alleged to be Macey-Girard was “yelling incoherently” while walking the Parkway trail and setting fires.

He was formally charged three days later with one count of arson, another count of mischief and a third break and enter change from an unrelated incident roughly three weeks prior.

Macey-Girard has been ordered to stand trial in B.C. Supreme Court and is expected to next appear in early 2024.

He’s remained in custody since his arrest, a decision which was made in July just days after the incident and enraged Macey-Girard.

“There’s fires everywhere ma’am! You know it, 315 today in the province!” he yelled out toward judge Susan Wishart after learning he’d remained locked up.

He has maintained his innocence and told police during an interview after his arrest, he wasn’t in the area at the time.

Court heard Macey-Girard was allegedly seen by witnesses near the fires, walking along the Parkway trail.

“The civilian then yells, asks the male if he had started the fires. The male said ‘Yep and there’s nothing you can do now,’” the Crown’s Ken Paziuk said.

Police said Macey-Girard was arrested south of Northfield Rd. after a brief foot chase.

Among numerous concerns, Judge Wishart said the inability for the accused of no fixed address to have protective conditions such as curfew and electronic monitoring was problematic for her.

“I’m satisfied that there is a substantial likelihood that if released Mr. Macey-Girard would commit further offences and that those offences would pose a significant danger to members of the public,” judge Wishart stated.

Macey-Girard was represented at the hearing by a legal aid lawyer, but told Court he was looking to secure new representation.

The accused has an extended history with the law back in his home province before he moved to the Nanaimo region in 2020.

In July 2019, he was involved in an extended standoff with police at a Montreal home, after an altercation with a woman at the property. Macey-Girard threatened to use explosives but ultimately surrendered to police after a few hours.

Six years prior, he served two years in jail after luring a 15-year-old girl into prostitution and having sexual contact with her.

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