Fire that became Nova Scotia’s largest wildfire began on Barrington property
Court records have revealed that Nova Scotia’s largest-ever wildfire — which destroyed homes and scorched over 23,000 hectares in May 2023 — began on private land near Barrington Lake, where a man lit a tire on fire.
According to documents released during sentencing, Dalton Stewart started the fire on the property of 86-year-old Mervyn Perry. Perry, who owns more than 100 hectares near the site, said he had no idea the fire had started on his land until days later when he saw smoke and heard reports online.
“You’re on someone else’s property to begin with. Go on your own property and destroy your own,” Perry said, still frustrated more than a year later.
Stewart pleaded guilty under Nova Scotia’s Forests Act and was fined $25,000 on October 16.
Night of the fire
Court documents describe how Stewart and several friends were drinking near Homer’s Rock on the night of May 25, 2023. He reportedly used cardboard and motor oil as an accelerant to ignite a tire, later stomping on the flames but failing to ensure they were extinguished.
Neighbours reported seeing two trucks leaving the area and smoke rising the next morning. The small blaze quickly grew out of control, becoming part of the catastrophic Barrington wildfire that devastated southwestern Nova Scotia.
Stewart’s lawyer argued that other fires may have also contributed to the overall spread. No other individuals were charged.
Aftermath and destruction
The Barrington wildfire burned more than 23,000 hectares, destroyed dozens of homes and cottages, and forced thousands of residents to evacuate.
Perry’s home and lakefront cottage were spared, but he was displaced for a week and said much of his forest is gone.
“Most of it is just destroyed now,” he said. “It shouldn’t have happened, but it did — and now you’ve got to live with it.”
Local firefighter and lobster fisherman Kevin Doane said the community is still struggling to recover.
“It’s kind of a slap in the face to the volunteer firefighters and everybody that lost everything,” Doane said, calling the fine too light given the destruction.
Communities still healing
The wardens of Barrington and Shelburne acknowledged that the sentencing may reopen wounds for residents, but praised the strength of local volunteers and first responders.
“The resilience of our people defines who we are as communities,” they said in a joint statement.
Perry, reflecting on the charred landscape, hopes that one day his children will see the land recover.
“We’re not going to see it back the way it was,” he said quietly. “But maybe they will.”
