But neighbours who spoke with the Post say they aren’t worried about the incident and think once the people who live in the house at 416 King Street are gone, the likelihood of further incidents will go with them.
Staff Sergeant Ken O’Neill of the Cape Breton Regional Police Service confirmed the New Waterford Volunteer Fire Department was called at 1 a.m. Sunday to put out a fire in a 2002 Dodge Neon parked on the property. The fire did minor damage to the home but there were no injuries, as the home was vacant at the time of the fire. It is unknown at this time who owns the car.
Ebony Hayward lives at 416 King Street but hasn’t been seen at the house since the gunfire incident on June 10. Attempts to contact Hayward were unsuccessful by press time.
People who live nearby say they didn’t even know there was a fire until police began canvassing the neighbourhood for information about it, hours after it was extinguished.
“It has always been a quiet neighbourhood,” said one woman who wished to remain anonymous, saying she doesn’t want to get involved in the personal affairs of Hayward.
“We have never had anything like this before.”
The woman said the house was bought from the estate of an elderly man who lived there prior to Hayward and at first Hayward lived there with a man.
“They are from Sydney so once they go back there I think this will all be over again,” she says.
Another neighbour, who also wished to stay anonymous for what she said were the same reasons, said she hasn’t seen Hayward since the gunshots incident and isn’t worried for her personal safety since the incidents seem to be targeted towards Hayward.
Const. Ray Reid of the regional police force, who was found at the scene of the fire on Sunday morning said “chances are good” it is a suspicious fire.
The fire marshal’s office and the arson unit will be following up as the investigation continues. Security remains at the scene.
