Two youths have been arrested in connection to a pair of suspicious brush fires near Fort Rodd Hill.

Alert witnesses photographed two individuals hurriedly leaving the site of a fire along Ocean Boulevard just after noon July 31.

B次元官网网址淲e located the two youths, who were subjects of interest, and they were arrested and we anticipate forwarding charges,B次元官网网址� said Const. Joanne Harrisson of the West Shore RCMP.

Colwood Fire Department, alerted to a blaze at 12:13 p.m., arrived at the scene to find a 12-by-21-metre fire burning through the brush. One of the fire vehicles was sent into Belmont Park to cut off the fire, when firefighters discovered a second fire, approximately 15-by-18 metres, burning more than a kilometre away.

Both were deemed suspicious, said Colwood assistant fire chief John Cassidy, adding the second fire wasnB次元官网网址檛 sparked by the first.

B次元官网网址淭here was no natural cause to be found,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淭here was no lightning, no natural causes, or light reflecting off a bottle or lensing from glass and no unattended camp fires.B次元官网网址�

Fortunately there were no injuries or damage to property or structures, Cassidy said, but it could have been worse if the public hadnB次元官网网址檛 alerted them immediately and firefighters hadnB次元官网网址檛 responded so quickly. At its peak approximately 18 firefighters from Colwood and View Royal were fighting the blaze.

B次元官网网址淎 quick and aggressive fire attack for containment and extinguishment made the difference in both of these fires,B次元官网网址� Cassidy said. B次元官网网址淭here were some key factors that came together B次元官网网址� it had the potential of taking off and being hard to bring under control.B次元官网网址�

The province has imposed a burning ban on all Crown land and unincorporated areas, while most municipalities have also imposed their own burning bans.

The two youths, both under the age of 18, are residents of Greater Victoria.

alim@vicnews.com