The Ontario government is safeguarding public safety and lands by ensuring outdoor resource users keep their fires under control and follow all rules under the Forest Fires Prevention Act and any fire bans that may be in place.
Wassim Zaibak of Ottawa, pleaded guilty to failing to keep a fire under control and was ordered to pay Ontario $35,000 as partial compensation for the costs incurred to extinguish the fire.
The court heard that on June 4, 2023, a forest fire started on a privately owned island on Centennial Lake in Renfrew County in a Restricted Fire Zone. The fire consumed almost 45 hectares of forest area and nearby residents were evacuated as a safety precaution. A forensic investigation determined the fire was human caused. Conservation officers determined Zaibak caused the fire.
The investigation was supported by eye-witness accounts from residents, cottage owners and the Greater Madawaska Fire Department.
Justice of the Peace Carl Everett DeJong heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Pembroke, on August 26, 2024.
To report a natural resource problem or provide information about an unsolved case, members of the public can call the ministry TIPS line toll free at 1-877-847-7667. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS. For more information about unsolved cases, please visit ontario.ca/mnrftips.