Man charged with arson following multiple fires in North Sydney, N.S.

A man has been charged after firefighters responded to arsons in North Sydney, N.S.

A 32-year-old Cape Breton man is facing arson charges following a rash of fires in North Sydney, N.S., early Saturday morning.

Cape Breton Regional Police responded to multiple fires involving structures and vehicles around Peppett Street and William Street in North Sydney, N.S., around 3 a.m.

Two different vehicles were set on fire and one fire spread to a backyard garage.

Fire was also set to a home but police say the homeowner managed to stop it before it caused any damage.

No one was injured.

“With information from residents and video surveillance, police were able to identify a potential suspect responsible for setting the fires,” said Cape Breton Regional Police in a news release.

“Additional officers patrolled the surrounding areas, and with assistance from a K9 team, they tracked the suspect to Foreman Street, where he was located inside a building and arrested.”

Derrick Donald Hall has been charged with:

• three counts of arson with disregard for human life
• three counts of arson with damage to property
• possession of incendiary material
• theft of a security camera

Hall appeared in Sydney provincial court on Monday.

Busy weekend for local fire department

North Sydney Fire Chief Lloyd MacIntosh said his department also dealt with a number of unrelated fires during what ended up being a very busy weekend.

“Having nine fires in that time is unusual,” said MacIntosh.

“We have had multiple fires -- two and three at a time, maybe four -- but having nine pretty much at the same time in the span of a couple hours, that’s a little bit unusual. Especially at that hour of the night, you know, three o’clock in the morning.”

Anyone with information or video related to the fires is asked to contact Cape Breton Regional Police or Crime Stoppers should they wish to remain anonymous.

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