Police have charged a man with setting several fires in downtown St. John’s earlier this week.
Twenty-year-old Caleb Boland-Pelkey made a brief appearance in provincial court today and remains in custody pending a bail hearing on Tuesday. He faces three charges of arson with the disregard of human life, each carrying a fine of $50,000.
The fire department was forced to respond to several areas between 10:30 p.m. Tuesday night and 12:30 a.m. Wednesday morning.
The RNC says the fires were intentionally set within several blocks of each other between Lemarchant Road and New Gower Street.
No one was injured and no buildings were damaged thanks in large part to the quick response of firefighters from the nearby Central Fire Station.
Police say the investigation is ongoing in consultation with resource enforcement officers with the Department of Fisheries, Forestry, and Agriculture.
Officials are reminding everyone that a fire ban remains in effect across the province and open fires are not permitted.
To report a fire call 911, or anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or visiting www.nlcrimestoppers.com.
A $5,000 reward is available to anyone who offers information that leads to the identification and arrest of those responsible for starting a wildfire.
