ASHMONT - A string of suspicious fires in the Ashmont area are being investigated, and one of the most recent fires involved extensive resources to contain.
On May. 3, Ashmont, Mallaig and St. Paul fire crews responded to a call in the area of Twp Rd 604 and Highway 867.
"The barn and other outbuildings were completely burnt upon arrival and the fire spread into the nearby bush," according to Ashmont Fire Department Chief James Preston, speaking on Thursday. It took crews about 12 hours to contain the fire, and also required help from the County of St. Paul with heavy machinery being brought in.
"The fire appears to be suspicious and follows another string of suspicious fires in the area, including one set shortly after arriving at the hall from the barn-bush fire," says Preston.
The fires were reported to RCMP and are being investigated, according to Preston.
Sgt. Robert Burgess confirmed on Friday morning that "several suspicious fires have taken place in the Ashmont area since [April 28], with the most recent occurring on [May 3] at [10 .p.m]."
Burgess further noted that "Ashmont Fire is still on scene fighting the fire. Fire investigators from the RCMP Forestry Crimes Unit and Government Of Alberta plan to attend [Friday] in an effort to determine the cause and initiate an investigation."
