There was no criminal intent to a grass fire on Lemo Road on March 4, according to the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP.
At the time, there was speculation that the fire may have been deliberately set in relation to an ongoing criminal trial in Duncan, but the police have determined this was not the case in their investigation of the incident.
“We recognize that the event created significant concern in the community,” a police statement said.
“We would like to assure everyone that, while man made, it was not started in relation to the ongoing criminal trial and was not racially motivated. Instead it was a fire that was started for legitimate reasons and, unfortunately, got out of control.”