Tantallon wildfire investigation ongoing | SaltWire

The investigation into the Tantallon wildfires in May is still in progress, according to the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables.

Patricia Jreige, spokesperson for the department, said the initial report is completed but the investigation isn’t over just yet.

“The wildfire cause and origin reports were completed by DNRR’s forest protection staff and referred to the department’s Conservation Officer Service,” said Jreige on Thursday.

“Evidence continues to be gathered and analyzed.”

Beginning on May 28, the Tantallon wildfires damaged hundreds of houses and caused thousands of people to be evacuated from their homes.

Jreige said that if the conservation officers find any evidence of foul play they have the power to lay charges.

“For wildfires, DNRR’s conservation officers’ authority to lay charges is pursuant to the Forests Act,” Jreige said.

“Any criminal charges would be the responsibility of the police.”

Jreige could not say if the department found the source of the fire, or how long the rest of the investigation was going to take.

“I have no further information other than what I provided earlier,” she said.

On June 4, the department put out a news release stating that the fire was under control at an estimated 950 hectares.

The release said the blaze was contained thanks to 79 firefighters on the scene: 40 from the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables, 30 from the Halifax Regional Municipality and nine from the Department of National Defence.

For updates on the state of the fires and support, there is a dedicated page at the municipality’s website..