RCMP insist they are “actively investigating” the recent rash of forest fires that have devastated several towns just north of Carbonear.

But they say their numbers don’t jibe with the ones being bandied about in the public or on social media.

RCMP NL’s Chief Superintendent Pamela Robinson says she’s well aware of the frustration and anxiety felt by residents, and she says they can help police by reporting every single fire.

“I need to stress that we cannot investigate what is not reported,” she said. “We’ve heard a few different numbers in terms of how many fires there have been, and it doesn’t line up with the information that we are receiving, in what has been reported to police.”

Robinson was asked, but did not say if police have any suspects or persons of interest in any of the fires.

She also said some have already been found to be not criminal in nature.