The man charged following an investigation into the largest wildfire in Nova Scotia history has been fined $25,000.
Dalton Stewart, 23, chose not to speak when he was sentenced Thursday in Barrington provincial court.
The sentencing, a joint recommendation of the Crown and defence, also includes an order to complete educational training on wildfire prevention.
Stewart previously pleaded guilty to a charge under the Forestry Act. Two other charges were dismissed or withdrawn.
An agreed statement of facts entered into the court record Thursday provides details of what happened.
The document shows Stewart admitted to setting a tire on fire on private land near Lake Barrington while drinking with friends late at night on May 25, 2023.
Before leaving the area, Stewart attempted to put out the fire. He admitted to being very drunk.
He now admits that he did not make all reasonable efforts to prevent the fire from spreading or to confirm that it had been completely extinguished.
The Lake Barrington wildfire burned more than 23,000 hectares, destroyed about 60 structures and forced thousands of people from their homes.
Lead Crown counsel Brian Cox said the fire was devastating, but credited Stewart’s cooperation with authorities as a mitigating factor.
“Mr. Stewart has admitted that he started the fire that ultimately sparked the Lake Barrington wildfire,” Cox said.
He added that no sentence could reverse the consequences or the devastation, but said the fine is significant.
“The maximum penalty allowed at that time was $50,000,” Cox said. “The $25,000 is a significant fine. It’s a significant deterrent fine for Mr. Stewart and I think it’s a significant amount for any Nova Scotian.”
Cox told the court the costs to extinguish the fire were around $8 million.
Restitution was considered, he said, but given the defendant’s modest circumstances, it was not thought to be in the public interest, and neither was a possible prison sentence. Instead, he said, the ruling focuses on accountability.
“Drunken Tire Fire”
Judge Paul Scovil said no sentence would be sufficient for the damage caused.
He described it as more than unthinkable for someone to start a fire in the forest when conditions were so dry, never mind what he called a “drunk tire fire.”
Melissa Nickerson, who lost her home in Thomasville, N.S., to the wildfire, cried in court while giving a victim impact statement.
He said his family of four had to start their lives over and suffered financial loss and post-traumatic stress disorder.
“I am angry and very upset, grieving the loss of my home and all my most precious memories,” she said.
Barrington and Shelburne township trustees issued a joint statement following the hearing.
The statement from Shaun Hatfield and Penny Smith said news of the sentencing will bring back painful memories for those affected by the bushfires.
He said his focus remains “recovery, healing and building greater resilience for the future.”
Chief Darrell Locke of the Shelburne Volunteer Fire Department was in court for the hearing and said he was disappointed with the outcome.
“Many people lost everything they owned and, as we saw in the victim impact statement, were devastated,” Locke said.
“There was panic, there was fear.”
Stewart accepts responsibility, says lawyer
Stewart’s lawyer, Philip Star, told the court that his client works in a fishery plant on a minimal income and will need between 18 months and two years to pay the fine.
Star said Stewart accepts responsibility for what he did.
He maintains there may have been other fires in the area that contributed to the wildfire.
“We agree in the agreed statement of facts that a fire started that was at least part of the Barrington wildfire,” Star said in an interview. “A fire is a fluid situation and if one or more people started other fires and they merged with this fire, who caused what?”
Star said it remains to be seen if there will be any civil action, but he is not aware of any to date.
