Firefighters are busy battling more than half a dozen brush fires along the Nanaimo Parkway.

Multiple fire crews were called out at approximately 11:45 a.m. Tuesday, July 4, to reports of brush fires along the parkway near the Northfield Road intersection.

鈥淧olice and fire crews responded to multiple reports from witnesses that an unknown man had been seen setting fires along the walking trail that runs parallel to the Nanaimo Parkway,鈥� noted a Nanaimo RCMP press release.

An individual was located and taken into police custody at about 12:30 p.m.

As many as eight fires have been identified over a two-kilometre stretch both north and south of the Northfield Road intersection.

鈥淒ue to the extremely dry and windy conditions, not all of the fires have been contained which has resulted in a portion of the southbound lanes being closed,鈥� said reserve Const. Gary O鈥橞rien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesperson, in the release.

Emergency crews initially closed one lane in each direction on the parkway, then closed the parkway鈥檚 southbound lanes at the Mostar Road intersection. Northfield Road is also closed between Boxwood Road and the Nanaimo Parkway. Motorists have been asked to avoid the area.

O鈥橞rien said police are 鈥渆xtremely thankful鈥� to witnesses who provided information that led to the arrest of the suspect, but added that investigators are now interested in hearing detailed witness accounts. Anyone with information or dashcam video from the area is asked to call the Nanaimo RCMP鈥檚 non-emergency line at 250-754-2345.

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