The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary is urging residents to come forward after a series of five suspicious fires over the weekend in St. John’s that investigators believe were deliberately set near communication infrastructure.
Concentrated incidents across the east end
Police say officers responded to five separate blazes in a two-day span, all of which were extinguished by the St. John’s Regional Fire Department and resulted in no reported injuries. Investigators have linked the fires to areas with phone poles and lines and are treating the incidents as targeted.
“The RNC are investigating a series of fires it believes were set to target communication towers and phone lines.”
Reported locations and times provided by police are listed below. The RNC has asked anyone who was in these areas within roughly one hour before or after the fires to share what they saw.
| Date | Approximate time (NT) | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | ~11:05 a.m. | Pole line off Linegar Avenue, Shea Heights |
| Saturday | ~1:35 p.m. | Vicinity of Linegar Avenue |
| Saturday | ~3:45 p.m. | Southside Road |
| Sunday | ~5:25 p.m. | George's Pond Road, near Team Gushue Highway |
| Sunday | ~11:40 p.m. | Wooded area off Old Pennywell Road |
Police appeal and public safety note
The RNC is asking anyone with information or relevant video footage — including CCTV, dashboard cameras or cellphone recordings — taken within approximately one hour before or after the times listed to contact investigators. The force provided a tip line: 709-729-8000. In an emergency, residents are reminded to call 911.
- No injuries were reported and all fires were extinguished by the St. John’s Regional Fire Department.
- Investigators believe the fires were targeted at communication poles and phone lines.
- Anyone with information or footage from the time windows around the incidents is asked to contact the RNC.
These incidents have the potential to disrupt local communications and raise concerns in neighbourhoods where the fires occurred. Authorities have not released information about suspects or motives while the investigation continues. The RNC said it will provide updates as new information becomes available.
Residents who live, work or travel near the locations listed are encouraged to check surveillance systems for the specified time periods and to report any unusual activity to the RNC to assist investigators.
