Arson suspected following series of fires in Happy Valley-Goose Bay overnight Friday

Fire Chief Bradley Butler has spent more than two decades fighting fires in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, but he has never experienced a night like Friday.

“We’ve seen a lot of fires and a lot of calls, but last night was the busiest night I’ve seen,” said Butler, who became the town’s fire chief in 2016. 

In a span of approximately six hours on Friday night and Saturday morning, four structures were set ablaze: a shed, an abandoned house, an unused building that was once a popular restaurant, and a Nunatstiavut Government office.

It took the RCMP less than a day to announce its suspects arson was the cause of all four fires, which occurred in the Happy Valley part of the central Labrador community.

“Evidence gathered as part of the investigation suggests that these fires were intentionally set,” the local RCMP posted on Facebook Oct. 25. There have been no reported injuries.

“Police are asking residents to review any available video surveillance footage in the areas of Palliser Crescent and Oliver Drive, Cabot Street, Hamilton River Road (near the Northmart) and Corte Real Road, overnight [Friday] for any suspicious activity or information that could be related to the investigation.”

Timeline of events

A shed on Palliser Crescent belonging to town councillor Jackie Compton-Hobbs was the first structure fire reported to authorities, at 11:45 p.m. The shed was lost, as were the snowmobiles and other gas-powered equipment inside. No major explosions occurred while firefighters were extinguishing the blaze, though a gas can ruptured, Butler said, explaining it took about an hour and half to extinguish.

The second call, regarding a fire at an abandoned house at 58 Cabot Cres., came in at 3:15 a.m. The structure was also a total loss and took just over an hour to put out, Butler explained.

The fire at the old Tricia Dee’s restaurant on Hamilton River Road occurred about an hour and half later. That fire mostly affected the interior of the building, though part of the roof at the back of the building caved in, Butler said, adding it took crews about two hours to extinguish the blaze.

“The building was unoccupied, but we weren’t sure of the propane tanks at the side of the building. So that had to be cooled down and secured,” he said. “That took some of our time while fighting the fire.”

Finally, the Nunatstiavut Health office fire on Corte Real Road started nearly two hours after the fire at Tricia Dee’s. It took firefighters roughly an hour to extinguish, during which time firefighters were also called to respond to a vehicle accident.

“We had to take out some walls and floors to get at the seat of the fire,” Butler explained, adding the building “will have to be cleaned up to get the smell of smoke out,” but that he thinks Nunatsiavut will “be able to resume operations” there.

Since the fires occurred on a weekend, not all of the crew members were available, Butler said.

“Where it was a Friday, you had people at their cabins and out of town. But I would say we had 12 to 15 bodies at each call, and for most of them it was the same bodies going to each call.”

‘Remain vigilant,’ says Mayor

On Saturday the town addressed the fires via a statement on social media. “We recognize the concern these incidents have caused and want to reassure residents that we are working closely with law enforcement to ensure public safety,” it says.

Mayor Bert Pomeroy said the town is “grateful to both the RCMP and our fire department for their dedication and teamwork,” and that they “encourage residents to remain vigilant and to share any relevant footage or information with the RCMP.”

The RCMP is asking anyone with information regarding the fires to call (709) 896-3383 or  Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Residents can also  visit www.nlcrimestoppers.com or use the P3Tips app.