The RCMP is continuing active investigations into two major fires in the province over the last year or so.

Fire destroyed the Driftwood Inn in Deer Lake in October of 2024, claiming the life of an American visitor.

Last summer, a series of fires that residents believe were deliberately set, led to devastating destruction along the Conception Bay North Shore. The most recent fire last August tore through nine communities and razed hundreds of structures.

Assistant RCMP Commissioner Pat Cahill says large investigations often take time, and he empathizes with the frustration expressed by those affected.

“I can see people wanting to have answers” says Cahill, “and to be able to put it to rest. Unfortunately, some of these things take a long time to investigate.”

“I can’t really go into too much, because there’s many facets to an investigation and many complexities” which can take a long time. “I do empathize with the people and the losses that they’ve incurred, but none of these things are closed, we keep working on them.”