The RCMP are investigating a series of suspicious fires that destroyed five buildings and damaged a church in the Joggins, N.S. area.
Fire crews responded to Pit Road around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday. Police say three homes and a garage were on fire when crews arrived.
While responding to Pit Road, emergency personnel received a report of a fire at the Masonic Lodge on Highway 242 in Joggins.
The lodge is located near a church, which also caught fire.
Police say the homes, garage and Masonic Lodge were destroyed, while the church sustained smoke and water damage.
Investigators say they are treating the fires as suspicious and are working to determine a cause.
“These are certainly suspicious in nature, and most likely they’re the result of an arson,” said RCMP Staff Sgt. Allan Carroll.
More than 70 firefighters from ten fire departments across Cumberland Country responded to the fire.
They brought with them a number of tanker trucks, which were instrumental because the village of Joggins has not fire hydrants.
One firefighter from the River Hebert department received non-life-threatening injuries.
Police say all of the buildings were vacant at the time and no one else was injured.
Upset homeowners questioned the motive behind the senseless destruction.
“Why? They know what I’ve been through, what my kids have been through, and now we have nothing,” said Tammy McIsaac, whose property was destroyed.
She was planning to move back this summer.
Kim Arsenault moved out of her two-storey home last fall, but kept new windows and a water-heater inside for her move back.
“We thought we were going to be able to rebuild, but now we won’t have the means to do that,” she said.
Some in the community say now is the time to help catch those responsible.
“We need to get together as a community and show people that this is not us. We’re much better than this,” said Brian Hebert, who owns the Masonic Lodge.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Dan MacIntosh
