Canadian man who claimed wildfires were a federal conspiracy admits arson

Flames reach upwards along the edge of a wildfire as seen from a Canadian forces helicopter in Quebec on 12 June 2023. Photograph: Canadian Forces/Reuters

A Canadian man who claimed forest fires were the result of a government conspiracy has pleaded guilty to lighting more than a dozen blazes during the country’s record-breaking wildfire season, as nearly 100 fires persist in drought-stricken regions.

Brian Paré admitted to 13 counts of arson and one count of arson with disregard for human life at the courthouse in central Quebec, an act that drew away key firefighting resources from nearly 700 fires in the province last summer.