Mounties are hunting for an arsonist after fire crews were called to the same area of North Vancouver twice in the same day to put out more than a dozen fires.

The first blazes, which authorities believe were set on purpose, were reported Wednesday morning along trails in the tinder-dry forest in Hastings Creek Park, just off Lynn Valley Road.

Calls to 911 started coming in around 6 a.m. as residents saw plumes of smoke in the area. Police said 10 fires of various sizes were found, including some that were started directly behind homes.

“The North Vancouver RCMP is taking this investigation very seriously,” Insp. Jennifer Hyland said in a release. “With the extremely hot dry conditions we are experiencing right now, public safety is paramount for everyone.”

Less than 12 hours later, at least three more fires were reported just 200 metres south of the area.

Few details on the second set of fires have been confirmed.

North Vancouver District deputy Fire Chief Mike Cairns said newspaper was left behind at the scene of one of the morning blazes.

"Just the fact that there is this amount of fires along a trail would indicate it is human caused,” he told CTV Vancouver.

After seeing several fires on the creek bed, neighbours rushed out of their homes with shovels and buckets to help put them out.

Darren Card, who lives up the road the creek, said it’s scary to think someone would purposefully be starting fires.

“You don’t expect it in this type of climate and environment. It’s an eye-opener,” he said.

Card said he’s in awe of the people who live in the area who sprang into action.

“They’re heroes. Local heroes,” he said.

Mounties and firefighters are working together to find the person responsible for the fires, and have asked anyone who sees something suspicious to call 604-985-1311.

Wildfires can be reported to 911 or by calling 1-800-663-5555 on a landline or *5555 on a cell phone.