MACKLIN – Update Aug. 26: With no signs of slowing down for an unknown arsonist in the Macklin area, concerned residents and businesses have been donating funds to the reward for anyone who has information that will lead to the apprehension of anyone involved in the fires.
The reward currently sits at $26,500, which included a donation of $2,500 from Delta Co-op.
Update Aug. 20: The Macklin and District Fire and Rescue announced on their Facebook page an anonymous donor has come forward to add to the reward pot, totalling $20,000. While the arson fires still continue to keep the department busy, Chief Justin Bast is hoping with more people keeping an eye out, the culprits will be apprehended.
Meanwhile, the department has received much support from the community with various donations and supplies including from the Delta Co-op.
Update Aug. 16: The Macklin and District Fire Protection Board has increased their reward for information leading to the apprehension of anyone who is connected to a string of bale and grass fires since July 29. The reward was increased to $15,000 from $3,000 on Aug. 15 after the Macklin and District Fire and Rescue were called out to nine more calls.
"It is very alarming that these individual/individuals are continuing to create situations where our resources are being allocated to such unnecessary calls," said Fire Chief Justin Bast in an online post.
Bast is also urging local farmers and land owners have fire break equipment, such as heavy discs, ready to go if the department requires further assistance.
If you see any suspicious activity or vehicles, or have information on those involved are to call the RCMP or Bast at 306-753-9141.
Original story: Farmers in the Macklin area have been asked to move their bales home to help stop a string of recent bale fires and a $3,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the discovery and apprehension of those involved.
Chief Justin Bast of the Macklin and District Fire and Rescue said the department became suspicious on July 30 after three calls were made about bales being on fire.
“There were eight bales in total we had to extinguish between July 29 and 30. It was during the last call we had noticed there were burn marks that did not light properly and inconsistencies with the burn patterns that we suspected someone was setting the bales on fire,” said Bast.
Bast also said there is no consistency in location either, with calls coming in from every direction. With the first few fires starting northwest of Macklin, another call came east of Senlac.
Bast took to the station’s Facebook page, keeping residents and farmers informed of the ongoing situation. By the end of the day on July 31, the department had responded to seven bale fire calls.
“Every time we get called to something like this, it takes precious time and resources which could potentially lead to response issues if there were to be a life-threatening situation in another location of our coverage area. These calls have totalled over 30 hours of response time,” said Bast in a post online.
Bast was relieved the crews had a break over the weekend, however the blazing bales started up again soon after.
“When we got calls on Aug. 6 and 7, the Macklin and District Fire Protection Board decided to offer the reward. We had to extinguish close to 30 bales since this started,” added Bast.
The cost of the fire department being called out to something like this is $1,700 per hour, along with lost wages for members who leave at a moment’s notice from their work.
If you see any suspicious activity or vehicles or have information on those who may be involved, please contact local RCMP or Chief Justin Bast at 306-753-9141.
