Man charged after two brush fires sparked near Port Alberni, B.C.

CCFD responded to a reported brush fire shortly after 10:00 PM last night in the area of Coombs Country Candy along the roadside.

A 38-year-old man has been charged after two brush fires were reported near Port Alberni, B.C., Wednesday night.

Port Alberni RCMP say officers were called shortly after 10 p.m. to the north side of the Alberni Highway near the Coombs Country Candy store after reports a man was seen deliberately setting fires in dry grass along the roadside.

Police say officers located a suspect nearby and arrested him without incident.

The man is facing two counts of arson and remains in custody following a court appearance Thursday morning.

The fires also prompted a response from the Cherry Creek Fire Department after flames were spotted in dry grass near the busy stretch of highway.

Before crews arrived, several bystanders stepped in and used bottles of water and sports drinks to help contain one of the fires.

“It was about five by five feet,” said Cherry Creek Fire Chief Lucas Banton. “They grabbed their Gatorade bottles and started dousing it out and actually helped to slow it down.”

No injuries were reported.

Banton said quick action by witnesses likely prevented the fire from spreading further at a time when dry conditions are increasing the risk of roadside and brush fires across Vancouver Island.

“We get very busy chasing a lot of fires early in the season, and it does drain resources, time, and money,” he said. “So when you have the assistance of the public, that’s really important.”

RCMP are asking anyone with additional information to contact the Port Alberni detachment at 250-723-2424.