Town on edge after 'unheard of' string of weekend fires in Happy Valley-Goose Bay

Happy Valley-Goose Bay’s fire chief says his crews are still recovering after a string of what police believe to be arsons damaged four different buildings over the span of a few hours Friday night.

“To have these four fires at the one time frame and the one night is something unheard of,” fire Chief Brad Butler told CBC Radio’s Labrador Morning on Monday morning.

The RCMP is investigating the fires, which started before midnight in a building on Palliser Crescent, then another just after 3 a.m. AT on Cabot Street, a third shortly after 5 a.m. in a building on Hamilton River Road, and then a fourth at an office building an hour later.

Butler said the fires started looking suspicious when crews arrived on the scene of the second — a long-abandoned house on Cabot Street.

He said about 12 to 15 firefighters responded to each of the fires, which was a challenge because they were in different parts of the town and crews had to pack up a fire truck to get it clear to be able to respond to to the next call.

"So that's hard in itself because the attack lines — the lines are hooked up to the hydrant — so all of those pieces have to play in and try to get the trucks to the next scene," he said.

Police believe someone set the fires intentionally. Each building was severely damaged, and one residential property was “completely lost to flames.”

There was no one inside any of them, said the RCMP.

Police are looking for information or surveillance footage from the Cabot Street, Corte Real Road, Hamilton River Road, Oliver Drive and Palliser Crescent areas on Friday.

Butler said he is encouraging anyone with information to contact to the RCMP.

Meanwhile, the town said people are on edge. 

“We encourage residents to remain vigilant and to share any relevant footage or information with the RCMP," said Happy Valley-Goose Bay Mayor Bert Pomeroy.

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