Province investigating cause of Crescent Spur fire

The BC Wildfire Service has opened a Fire Origin and Cause Investigation into the May 10th Crescent Spur wildfire, says the Ministry of Forests. CN Rail is under scrutiny for alleged noncompliance with the fire prevention measures required by the Wildfire Act, according to the Province’s Natural Resource Compliance and Enforcement Database.

Crescent Spur resident Shaye Braaten told The Goat that a Natural Resource Officer – a government official tasked with ensuring compliance with the Wildfire Act, among other environmental protection legislation – has been conducting interviews with locals. The Ministry declined to provide details on the Officer’s findings, as the investigation is still ongoing. Documents pertaining to the investigation will not be accessible via Freedom of Information Request while the investigation is still open, the Ministry said.

According to a B.C. government webpage about wildfire investigations, Natural Resource Officers typically compile witness statements, collect physical evidence, and conduct damage assessment over the course of an investigation. This process can take weeks or months, so the Crescent Spur investigation may not conclude before the end of the year, BC Wildfire Service information officer Jaedon Cooke told The Goat.

“We do not have an ETA to provide for when to expect the rulings to be published,” Cooke wrote in an email. “Information about the cause of a wildfire will not be released until an investigation is complete. Rulings, once published, can be found online: https://nrced.gov.bc.ca/.”

Braaten and other residents of the area believe the May 10th fire – and several smaller fires over the past few years – started alongside the CN-managed railroad tracks running through the community.

According to the above webpage, CN Rail operations near Crescent Spur have been investigated by Natural Resource Officers six times since last June. Five of these investigations have been for alleged noncompliance with the fire prevention regulations set forth in the Wildfire Act. The remaining investigation was for the mishandling of a burning substance.The Province did not respond to The Goat's question about the status of these investigations by presstime.

As the investigation into the May 10th fire is ongoing, CN declined to comment.

The Goat continues to investigate fires in Crescent Spur and Dome Creek. If you have tips or comments, please contact goatnewspaper@gmail.com or (250) 566-4606.

Abigail Popple, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Rocky Mountain Goat