Forest fires near Nanaimo 'suspicious'

Several small forest fires burning near Nanaimo, B.C.,were deliberately set, the Coastal Fire Centre says.

Spokeswoman Rosalie MacAulay says the Coastal Fire Centre has responded to three suspicious fires in the Nanaimo Lakes area in the last three days.

MacAulay said thesuspicious fires are not isolated incidents.

"It's been going on for a few years now," MacAulay said. "We just want to make everybody aware that this is going on and if anybody sees anything suspicious, that they should call the RCMP or the Coastal Fire Centre."

MacAulay said the largest suspicious fire in the areacovers six hectares, which is not considered large.

The Coastal Fire Centre has responded to roughly 158 fire incidents caused by people in the Nanaimo area since 2005. A fire incident can range from reports of smoke to a full-fledged fire, MacAulay said.

About 279 forest fires are burning across British Columbia, and about 71 per cent of the province is rated at high or extreme risk for forest fires.