The Canadian Press
NEW BRUNSWICK, Canada — A fire chief in New Brunswick says three of five people charged with a series of arsons in and around Doaktown have been volunteer firefighters in the village.
The RCMP says four men and one woman have been charged with arsons at unoccupied buildings over a one-year period.
Fire Chief Scott Stewart says two of the men were suspended indefinitely in March as a result of the police investigation.
''At that time, the officers of the fire department met and made a decision to suspend those two members indefinitely until the matter is resolved in court,’' Stewart said Tuesday.
He said a third man was let go in January after three months with the department.
''We had felt that he had breached some bylaws of the fire department so we revoked his firefighter privileges in early January,’' he said.
Stewart would not release the names of those who have worked as volunteer firefighters.
RCMP say Troy Ward, 25, of Blissfield and Leo Murray Veno, 28, of Doaktown are charged after a fire at an unoccupied home in Blissfield in November 2008.
Terrence Murray Ryder, 25, of Fredericton is charged in connection with three fires set in vacant buildings in Doaktown in November 2009.
Thomas Francis Colford, 24, faces two charges of arson after fires in Doaktown in November 2009, while Sherry Story, 39, of Doaktown is charged in connection with one of those fires.
All five are scheduled to appear in Provincial Court in Miramichi on Dec. 13.
Stewart said despite the investigation, the community remains supportive of the fire department.
''I believe the morale of the Doaktown Fire Department is still high,’' he said. ''I still think we have a great fire department.’'
The small community of fewer than 900 people is about 90 kilometres northeast of Fredericton.
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