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Can somebody please suggest to us what possible thrill, delight or other satisfaction there is in lighting bush fires at random up and down the river?

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And while you're at it, we'd also like to know just what sort of Neanderthal mindset it takes to derive from the act whatever peculiar satisfaction is suggested.

The pictures in Wednesday's paper of two men trolling the river looking for suitable spots to stop their bright red skiff and put their bottles of beer down long enough to hop out and set fire to tall grass and trees paint a truly pathetic picture.

There is no rhyme or reason for such wanton acts of stupidity, no sad explanations of being driven by a need to feed a drug habit — not that such an explanation would be any more acceptable, just perhaps a little bit more understandable.

It's bad enough that we still have a lingering hardcore group of individuals of questionable lineage who continue to think lighting road-blocks and burning down empty homes during Halloween is a fun thing to do.

According to land-owner Randall Connors, who owns the island in Upper Blackville where fire bugs landed last week, for years pyromaniacs, as he calls them, have been starting fires all around Upper Blackville.

"There have been lots over the years," Connors said. "We all worry about our houses ... We are scared to death. It happens every year. Sometimes it's so bad you can hear it roaring."

In addition to the possible threat to houses, Connors notes the fires also threaten animal habitats.

He added the troublemakers have started early this year — which means he and his neighbours can expect trouble come the dry season.

Connors explained he has gone to the police in the past about the problems, but, understandably, they have not had a great deal of success in nabbing the culprits.

"It's an issue every spring with people setting fires," commented District 6 RCMP Cst. Eric Anderson. "The fire chiefs in Sunny Corner and even Miramichi will tell you the same."

He said often when authorities do catch fire-setters they turn out to be children and instead of prosecuting them, the police hand the culprits over to their parents for appropriate action.

Connors said he would like to see more prosecutions, and we agree. Adult or child, anybody caught wantonly setting fires should be prosecuted. If an adult, then the appropriate penalty should be levied upon conviction; if a child, then perhaps the trauma of being charged and appearing in court will serve to deter further escapades — at least more so than a metaphorical slap on the hand, possibly more for getting caught than setting fires in the first place.

However, Anderson noted, the police can do nothing at all if nobody comes forward and he hoped Connors files a formal complaint.

So do we.