“Man Fined $25,000 for Starting Nova Scotia’s Largest Wildfire”

A 23-year-old man, Dalton Stewart, has been fined $25,000 following an investigation into the largest wildfire in Nova Scotia’s history. Stewart, who chose not to speak during the sentencing in Barrington provincial court on Thursday, agreed to a joint recommendation from the Crown and defense. The sentence also includes mandatory educational training on wildfire prevention.

Stewart had previously pleaded guilty to one charge under the Forest Act, while two other charges were either dismissed or withdrawn. An agreed statement of facts presented in court revealed that Stewart confessed to lighting a tire on fire on private land near Barrington Lake while intoxicated and hanging out with friends on May 25, 2023. Despite attempting to extinguish the fire before leaving, Stewart admitted to being very drunk and acknowledged not taking sufficient measures to prevent the fire from spreading or confirming it was completely put out.

The Barrington Lake wildfire, which burned over 23,000 hectares, destroyed approximately 60 structures, and displaced thousands of residents from their homes. Senior Crown attorney Brian Cox acknowledged the severity of the fire but commended Stewart’s cooperation with the investigation as a mitigating factor.

Cox emphasized that while no sentence can fully undo the damage caused, the $25,000 fine was a significant penalty, considering the maximum allowable penalty at the time was $50,000. He explained that the costs to extinguish the fire amounted to around $8 million.

Regarding restitution, Cox mentioned that it was not pursued due to the accused’s limited financial means and that a jail sentence was not deemed appropriate. The focus of the sentence, he stated, was on holding Stewart accountable for his actions.

‘Drunken tire fire’

Judge Paul Scovil expressed that no sentence could adequately address the harm caused, highlighting the reckless act of starting a fire in dry conditions, referring to it as a “drunken tire fire.”

During a victim impact statement, Melissa Nickerson, who lost her home in Thomasville, N.S., to the wildfire, tearfully shared the emotional and financial toll the incident had on her family.

A joint statement issued by the wardens of the municipalities of Barrington and Shelburne emphasized the ongoing focus on recovery, healing, and enhancing resilience in the aftermath of the wildfires.

Chief Darrell Locke of the Shelburne volunteer fire department expressed disappointment with the outcome, noting the extensive losses suffered by many individuals affected by the fire. Locke suggested that a more severe penalty might be warranted to better reflect the overall impact of the incident.

Stewart’s lawyer, Philip Star, mentioned in court that his client, who works in a fish plant with a modest income, would require 18 months to two years to pay the fine. Star asserted that Stewart takes responsibility for his actions and highlighted that an RCMP investigation did not find grounds for arson charges.

Star also raised the possibility that other fires in the area may have contributed to the wildfire, emphasizing the complex nature of fire incidents and questioning the attribution of specific causes.