A man charged in Nova Scotia’s largest wildfire has been sentenced.
A $25,000 fine for 23-year-old Dalton Clark Stewart of Villagedale, Shelburne County.
That was the joint-recommendation from the Crown and defense after an agreed statement of facts on his role in the 2023 Barrington Lake wildfire.
He pleaded guilty under the Forests Act last year for failing to take reasonable effort to prevent the spread of a fire, or leaving a fire unattended.
The statement of facts says one night in late May 2023, Stewart was drinking with friends and lit a fire at a property near what locals refer to as ‘Homers Rock.’
He used a tire, cardboard and motor oil to ignite the fire; he later stomped it out before leaving the scene.
The next day, nearby property owners noticed a fire at the site, it was measured around 2 hectares and out of control.
The fire grew to 200 hectares by the end of the day, despite suppression efforts from firefighters and the Department of Natural Resources.
The Crown and defense agreed that Stewart did not take reasonable effort to prevent a fire from spreading.
Eventually over time, the fire grew to 23,000 hectares and led to major evacuations in Shelburne County, along with the destruction of dozens of homes and structures.
Judge Paul Scovil accepted the joint recommendation from Crown lawyer Brian Cox and defence lawyer Phil Star.
The Judge said Stewart’s actions were beyond unthinkable, given the dry conditions at the time.
He said he passed the charred remains on the highway the way to court Thursday morning, and reflected on homes lost and lives impacted.
Judge Scovil said no matter the sentence, it will never be sufficient to the harm done, but the law must be abided.
Stewart did not speak in court, he has 18 months to pay the fine.
One of eight aircraft from New Brunswick that drops a mix of water and fire retardant makes a pass over the fire near Barrington Lake, Shelburne County. (Communications NS Photo)
Emotions still high two years after wildfire
Meanwhile, the effects of the Barrington Lake wildfire are still being felt.
Melissa Nickerson and her family lost their home about a week after the fire started.
She read a victim impact statement in court, detailing PTSD symptoms the fire has caused.
Nickerson said no amount of money could replace what her family has lost.
She was one of three to submit a victim impact statement.
Outside court, Shelburne fire chief Darrell Locke said a $25,000 fine is not enough.
“The roads and highways of Nova Scotia should be restricted for somebody, that in the words of the judge, was part of a drunken tire fire. Yeah, maybe he tried to stomp it out, but that didn’t do it, obviously,” Locke told Acadia News.
He says it’s a lot of money for someone to pay, but it doesn’t send the deterrent message that the judge and Crown were looking for.
Locke says he’ll never see the area fully recover
“We all drive up and down the roads, and we endure what it was like to drive through tunnels of fire, watch people’s houses burn down, and in some cases run for our lives.”
He says the area wasn’t prepared for the magnitude of evacuations that took place.
Locke says the recent fires in the Valley learned from Barrington Lake, and evacuations were done much sooner.
