Small fires continue in Halifax area where wildfire raged

Nearly two weeks after a wildfire roared across suburban Halifax, nuisance fires continue to plague the area where the blaze started.

Kaarin Tae, president of the McIntosh Run Watershed Association, has found dozens of burn marks along the riverbanks during her walks in the woods in Spryfield.

"There's a lot of dead timber in the woods," she told CBC News during a stroll in the area Monday.

"Over the year, I've seen evidence of small fires started back here. So it's not that surprising that one of these times, one of these would get out of control."

On April 30, a fire that began in the McIntosh Run area off Herring Cove Road quickly spread east to Purcells Cove Road, forcing the evacuation of about 500 homes.

By the time the wildfire was contained the next afternoon, eight homes were destroyed and 10 others damaged.

Fire investigators say the blaze began along McIntosh Run, though the cause remains a mystery.

Coun. Linda Mosher, municipal representative for Purcell's Cove-Armdale, said she has heard from several people reporting youths lighting fires in the woods.

Investigation could take months

Fire official Dave Meldrum said it's too early to determine if young peopleare to blame. It could be weeks or even months before investigators know the exact cause, he said.

But just last Friday,Meldrum said, residents called regardingyouth playing with fire in the McIntosh Run area.

"The officer's report indicates there were youths present who may have been using an aerosol can to make a bit of a flame," said Meldrum, with the Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency Service.

Taefound a blackened log on one of her walks in the woods.

"This does look kind of fresh," she said. "I mean, that timber is way too big to just ignite. I wouldn't be surprised if maybe something was poured on that that was flammable."

Tae wants more people to start walking in the area, which she hopes will lead to fewer fires.

"It might also be a wakeup call for people in the community to see how many little fires there are,"Tae said. "Maybe people will start talking to their kids about, 'Well, what are you doing after school? Do you know anything about all those fires that I see lit along the river?' "