Canadian man Brian Paré, who accused the government of being behind wildfires, pleaded guilty to 14 counts tied to forest fires. The information was reported by CNN.
Paré had claimed on social media that Canadian officials intentionally started fires to influence public opinion on climate policy. He later admitted to 13 arson counts and one charge of arson with disregard for human life, covering incidents from May through September of the previous year.
According to CNN, hundreds of residents were forced to evacuate their homes as a result of the arsonist’s actions.
Prosecutor Marie-Philippe Charron noted that one of the fires Paré started forced officials to relocate approximately 400 people in Chapais, a town in Quebec. Paré stated that the largest fire he admitted to had burned more than 870 hectares of forest.
Charron added that Paré does not recall every fire he could have started, which is why the case now lists 14 fires. It remains possible that more fires occurred, but there is no evidence available at this time.
Officials say the defendant posted numerous conspiracy theories about the fires and the government’s response to possible arson attacks. The proclamations fueled debates about public safety, disaster response, and official transparency.
Separately, American researchers from Ohio State University announced in December a new method for detecting wildfires using synthetic aperture radar, or SAR, which can help monitor and map smoke plumes and burn areas in near real time. (Ohio State University)
In another unrelated note, officials in the Russian parliament discussed the inspection of a military unit in the Donetsk People’s Republic where weapons were reported lost in a fire, a development that has attracted international attention and scrutiny. (State Duma reports)