RCMP say around 150 youth were at Pipers Lagoon Park the evening of Friday, July 12, prior to a large grass fire which required a big response from Nanaimo Fire Rescue. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

active investigation

‘We’re narrowing it down:’ Nanaimo RCMP trying to identify who started Pipers Lagoon fire

Jul 16, 2024 | 10:16 AM

NANAIMO — Local police are combing through numerous videos as investigators attempt to pin down who started a damaging brush fire at Pipers Lagoon Park.

The late night fire, ignited by fireworks, scorched a 200 by 400 ft. area of grass and shrubbery at the northeastern end of the park on Friday, July 12 at around 11 p.m.

Nanaimo RCMP Res. Cst. Gary O’Brien said fire crews reported about 150 young people in the park when they arrived on scene, many of them consuming alcohol.

“There could a criminal code side to it if we determine that the fire was deliberately set, or it could be as simple as discharging or possessing fireworks in the city limits. Right now, all venues are open, we’re still in the evidence-collecting stage,” O’Brien told NanaimoNewsNOW.

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Among the large crowd there, O’Brien said only “a small percentage of people” caused the fire, noting a significant number of on-scene videos have been forwarded to their detachment and they expect more to be submitted.

“We’re narrowing it down, we want to focus on who are responsible. Every kid at the park had an iPhone or an Android and they’re all taking videos and we need to see those. Don’t think that just because somebody else has posted a video that we may have it; your vantage may be key in allowing this investigation to go forward.”

O’Brien said the large party originated from an invite on social media.

He said the fire easily could have spread to larger sections of the park due to heavy winds, saying Nanaimo Fire Rescue crews did an exceptional job limiting the damage.

Flames lit up large portions of the rocky treed area at the end of park’s spit. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

No injuries or property damage was reported from the fire which generated a widely seen dark orange glow with embers and smoke rising from the popular and highly valued north Nanaimo park.

Witnesses on scene told NanaimoNewsNOW the errant use of fireworks, including Roman candles, caused the blaze and that the young people gathering on the beach then quickly fled.

Firefighters remained on scene until 5 a.m. the following morning dousing hot spots, O’Brien noted.

The following morning, concerned citizens attended the scene, expressing their disappointment with the act of stupidity during a sweeping fire ban.

The fire danger rating at the time of the Pipers Lagoon fire was and remains extreme.

Several curious and disappointed onlookers surveyed the damage the morning after the human caused Pipers Lagoon fire (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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