Victoria police are satisfied that a fire that quickly consumed a swath of dried brush in Esquimalt’s Rockcrest Park and threatened nearby houses was not set intentionally.
Insp. Keith Lindner said it appeared the fire started about 2:40 p.m. Tuesday after a teenager attempted to butt out a cigarette in the park, which backs onto Highrock and Rockcrest avenues.
When the flames shot up, three youths ran.
“There’s no indication there was criminal activity,” Lindner said.
“The kids panicked but they did the right thing by stepping forward.”
The teen approached police early Tuesday evening. Two more teens visited police on Wednesday.
Despite recent warnings of an extreme fire hazard in the city — firefighters described the park as a “tinderbox” — the juveniles were oblivious, Lindner said.
The head of West Division refrained from identifying the ages or gender of the young people involved because they turned themselves in and worked with police.
They will also work with local fire officials on fire prevention.
Police praised the quick actions of several neighbours and the fast response of Esquimalt and Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt firefighters who fended off “the potential for some real property damage.”
