Nova Scotia's Natural Resources Department announced it will not lay charges under the Forests Act for the Upper Tantallon wildfire that destroyed 151 homes and burned 969 hectares in 2023, citing insufficient evidence for conviction. An RCMP investigation previously found no criminality. This decision comes as the two-year statute of limitations for charges under the act approaches.
Nova Scotia will not lay charges in Upper Tantallon wildfire
HalifaxNova ScotiaForestsFiresWildfiresSuburbs
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️Nova Scotia's Natural Resources Department announced it will not lay charges under the Forests Act for the Upper Tantallon wildfire that destroyed 151 homes and burned 969 hectares in 2023, citing insufficient evidence for conviction. An RCMP investigation previously found no criminality. This decision comes as the two-year statute of limitations for charges under the act approaches.
- 1 May 28, 2023: Upper Tantallon wildfire started
- 2 August 2023: Natural Resources Department issued public plea for information
- 3 January 2024: Dalton Clark Stewart charged in relation to Shelburne County fire
- 4 Wednesday (recently): Nova Scotia announced no charges for Upper Tantallon wildfire
- No charges laid for the Upper Tantallon wildfire
- 151 homes destroyed
- 969 hectares burned
- Millions of dollars in damage
- Thousands evacuated their homes
What: Nova Scotia's Natural Resources Department will not lay charges under the Forests Act in relation to the Upper Tantallon wildfire that occurred two years ago. The department stated it has exhausted all avenues and lacks sufficient evidence to secure a conviction.
When: Announcement made Wednesday; wildfire occurred May 28, 2023 (two years ago); two-year statute of limitations for charges under the Forests Act.
Where: Upper Tantallon and Hammonds Plains, Westwood Hills subdivision, suburbs outside Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Why: Insufficient evidence to secure a conviction under the Forests Act. An RCMP investigation found no criminality.
How: The Natural Resources Department conducted an investigation, including a public plea for information last August, but could not gather enough evidence.