{
  "id": 6344984,
  "title": "Suspicious fires in abandoned Sechelt neighbourhood put residents on edge",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/suspicious-fires-in-abandoned-sechelt-neighbourhood-put-residents-on",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-08T23:13:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Global News",
    "slug": "global-news",
    "url": "https://globalnews.ca/news/12051554/sechelt-seawatch-suspicious-fires/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Neighbours of an abandoned neighbourhood on the Sunshine Coast are demanding action from the district after two homes burned to the ground in the Seawatch area over the weekend. The fires were reported around 10 a.m. Saturday, but firefighters were unable to control the blaze due to the area being off-limits for over six years. In 2019, 14 properties in the Seawatch subdivision were evacuated due to erosion and sinkholes, leading to a state of local emergency that was only lifted in 2022. Since then, the houses have been vandalized and the assessed value has plummeted from around a million dollars to just two dollars. Deputy Fire Chief Stephen Akterberg explained that the firefighting efforts were limited to life safety only due to the lack of water protection in the area. Residents are concerned about a potential threat beyond the subdivision and have started a Change.org petition. They fear that if the next fire spreads to adjacent houses or the surrounding forest, it could pose a significant risk to the surrounding area. The District of Sechelt acknowledged the risks and expressed the need for guidance on how to deal with these situations. Neighbours have reached out to various authorities, including the MLA, ombudsman, RCMP, and city officials, but remain frustrated and demand a solution now.",
  "summary": "The fires were reported in the Seawatch neighbourhood around 10 a.m. Saturday, but firefighters were forced to watch as the homes burned for hours, as the area is off-limits.",
  "key_points": [
    "Two homes burned in Seawatch area, firefighters limited by lack of water.",
    "Seawatch subdivision evacuated in 2019 due to erosion and sinkholes.",
    "Residents demand action, fear fire threat to surrounding area."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}