Man charged in Barrington Lake wildfire, investigation continues into Tantallon fire

A man from Shelburne county has been charged in connection to last summer’s wildfire on the South Shore, while officials continue to investigate the wildfire in Tantallon.

The Department of Natural Resources said the charges were laid Wednesday against Dalton Clark Stewart, 22, of Villagedale, Shelburne County.

The charges include lighting a fire on privately owned land without permission of the owner or occupier, failing to take action to stop the spread of a fire, and leaving a fire unattended.

Stewart is expected to appear in court on Mar. 7 to answer to those charges. The department said the courts will determine the outcome including any penalties. Forestry act violations are punishable by a fine of up to $50,000 and/or up to six months in jail.

That wildfire was the largest on record for Nova Scotia. The fire started on May 26 and burned 23,379 hectares before it was extinguished on Jul. 26.

In a release, the department also said its investigation is continuing into the Tantallon wildfire that destroyed homes and forced thousands from their homes this past summer.

“While the Department has gathered considerable information, there is a high bar for what can be used as evidence in court,” the release said.

DNR added under the forestry act, it has up to two years to lay charges from the date of the alleged offence.