Port Alberni RCMP have arrested a 38-year-old man in connection with multiple suspicious brush fires reported on the evening of May 13, 2026. Jordan Donald Munro faces two counts of arson following his arrest near the Alberni Highway.
Officers arrived at the area near the Coombs Country Candy store just after 10 p.m. after receiving reports of a man deliberately setting fires in the brush. The Cherry Creek Fire Department responded to the scene to extinguish the flames and later credited members of the public with providing critical assistance. One witness reported seeing someone throw a cigarette into the dry brush, while another bystander used a Gatorade bottle to help douse the flames before emergency crews arrived.
The suspect was taken into custody without incident and held for a judicial hearing that took place on the morning of May 14, 2026. This incident occurred as the BC Wildfire Service maintains a high fire danger rating for the region.
Officials have noted a concerning trend of intentionally set fires in the community recently, including behind the local Walmart and at The Lookout, where a separate human-caused wildfire broke out the same day. These events coincide with the Coastal Fire Centre implementing its earliest ever campfire ban on May 7, 2026. While Category 2 and 3 open fire bans remain in effect until October 31, 2026, the Category 1 campfire prohibition was rescinded on May 15, 2026, ahead of the Victoria Day long weekend.
