Police rule blaze at wharf accidental
The RCMP say a fire that destroyed two vehicles and damaged another one at a wharf in Digby on Tuesday has been determined to have been accidental.
According to the RCMP, the fire was reported at 4:15 a.m. on Tuesday.
RCMP spokeswoman Cpl. Jennifer Clarke says the police made their determination that the fire was an accident based on video and witness statements.
“Police obtained surveillance video from area businesses and also obtained statements from witnesses to assist in the investigation. The video shows the driver of a cube van parked it in the parking area by the wharf just after 4 a.m., then exited the vehicle,” said a RCMP news release.
The RCMP say from the video that smoke can be seen coming from under the hood of the truck and that a short time later flames are visible coming from the engine compartment.
Cpl. Clarke said “pretty much from the time the driver parked the vehicle” you can see smoke coming from under the hood. It erupted into flame within a very short time frame, she said.
She didn't know if the person was aware that there was an issue with the vehicle. She noted in the video the driver is seen calmly walking away after the vehicle is parked.
“They weren't running away from it,” she said.
Two other trucks that were parked next to the cube van were damaged by the fire. One of those vehicles was completely destroyed while the other sustained heavy damage, the RCMP say.
Firefighters attended to the scene and put out the blaze. It was reported there were no injuries.
“Police are aware that there are rumours in the community regarding the cause of the fire, however, they have determined it was accidental in nature,” the RCMP's media release. When asked about this, Cpl. Clarke said she did not want to elaborate on the rumours but said the RCMP wanted the public to know the fire was not an intentional one.