In British Columbia, more than 500 wildfires were identified as arson or suspicious between 2016 and 2025, accounting for about 3.8% of the total fires detected during that period. The B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) refers to these fires as “incendiary fires,” which are deliberately ignited in inappropriate areas or circumstances.
One of the recent suspicious fires under investigation is the Bald Range wildfire in the Summerland area, which led to the evacuation of numerous residents. The RCMP is seeking witnesses to provide information on the fire’s cause, discovered on August 7.
The BCWS expressed significant concern over deliberately set fires, especially given the current hot and dry conditions in the province. Cliff Chapman, the BCWS director of provincial operations, emphasized this concern, highlighting the increased risk posed by intentionally-lit blazes.
Campfire-caused wildfires during fire bans are typically classified as such by investigators, but in severe cases, arson charges may be warranted by the Natural Resource Officer Service and police. According to wildfire researcher Kira Hoffman, incendiary devices like fireworks or gas canisters can also lead to arson charges if they cause fires due to negligence.
Hoffman, a research associate at the University of British Columbia, noted that while arson-related wildfires are a minority in Canada, their occurrence tends to rise during periods of heightened wildfire risk. Recent incidents include the arrest of a suspected arsonist in Princeton and the discovery of intentionally lit fires near Shuswap Lake.
In a separate case, a Kelowna man was sentenced to 21 months in prison for starting fires on Knox Mountain last year. Hoffman highlighted more severe cases across the border, mentioning a man in Spokane, Wash., facing arson charges for fires that destroyed over 800 homes.
Additionally, a 29-year-old man faced charges for igniting the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles last year. Hoffman emphasized the seriousness of dealing with incendiary devices, likening them to explosives and highlighting the high risk they pose when near communities.