Rash of fires in Western P.E.I. 'very unusual,' chief says

The O'Leary Fire Chief says the rash of structure fires in Western P.E.I. recently is "very unusual."

"This is probably the most I've seen in my 30-year career in one month, of uninhabited structures," said Blair Perry.

Wednesday's fire at a home in Springfield West was the eighth the department has responded to in a month, Perry said.

• Home heavily damaged after fire in western P.E.I.
• Police investigating house fires in western P.E.I.
• Arson charge laid in western P.E.I.

The lone occupant was uninjured. The cause is under investigation, according to a spokesperson with the fire marshal's office.

We don't know if there's actually anybody in the house or not so we still have to do our job and extinguish the fires. Blair Perry

Most of the other recent fires in Western P.E.I. were at abandoned properties. Perry said the department responds to all calls in the same manner.

"We're there to provide a service, whether the property is abandoned or not," he said. "We don't know if there's actually anybody in the house or not so we still have to do our job and extinguish the fires."

Perry said the O'Leary Fire Department is responsible for the largest region in P.E.I., stretching from Bloomfield to Inverness.

• MORE P.E.I. NEWS | Record tourism on P.E.I.? Not for one area
• MORE P.E.I. NEWS | P.E.I.'s Official Opposition raises concerns over free concert passes