Sussex — In a colossal misunderstanding, some residents of New Brunswick have mistaken the victims of the ongoing civilian conflict in Sussex with the actual criminals who destroyed much of the town. Now, as the province tries to help the Sussex residents displaced by the conflict, the confusion is causing concern among those who believe the refugees are the same as the people who devastated the Dairy Town.

The massive mix-up is related to the situation that caused so many Sussex residents to be displaced in the first place. In the summer of 2015, an enormous group of arsonists invaded Sussex in a bid to take over the municipality. They started a series of fires that burned down a large number of homes and businesses in the town, and the resulting conflict also destroyed much of its infrastructure.

As the emergency personnel dealt with the fires and the RCMP waged a “civilian war” to stop the arsonists, several hundred residents fled the town. Most Sussex residents left due to having lost their home, their livelihood or over safety concerns about being caught in the proverbial crossfire.

As the provincial government tries to settle the refugees in Saint John, Moncton, Fredericton as well as other towns and villages, some New Brunswickers have voiced concerns about letting the displaced migrants into their municipalities. The citizens are saying that if they let in the victims of the conflict, they will likely let in the people who caused it as well.

“You know, if we let in those people from Sussex, we’ll probably be letting in a bunch of arsonists too,” said Hampton resident Romeo Meprise. “We know they aren’t all arsonists, but there’s probably some arsonists that will come in with them, and we can’t take that chance! I know they only have a backpack and a smartphone in a lot of cases, and half of them are children, but we just can’t risk it no matter how closely we screen everyone!”

“I know it’s not politically correct to say this,” said Moncton resident Deborah Cretin, “but a lot of those people from Sussex are… you know… farmers. And if they aren’t farmers you just know that they support the farming lifestyle and hold agricultural beliefs. And, we have heard in the media that some farmers are also arsonists. They just don’t fit in here with us, they don’t share the same urban values.” When asked what being a farmer had to do with being a refugee from a conflict, Cretin maintained that there was a link between being a farmer and being an arsonist, although she could not articulate what that connection was.

When asked for comment, Sussex refugee Chelsea Armstrong was incredulous. “We aren’t the arsonists! We are trying to get away from the arsonists! I’ve been sleeping on the ground with my 3 kids in a tent in Norton for months now. My children haven’t been to school at all this year. They are hungry and one is sick. Who seriously thinks this is part of some genius master plan? If it was, it’s the crappiest effin’ plan I’ve ever heard of.”