A Utah man has been arrested for allegedly starting a wildfire while trying to burn a spider with a lighter.
Corey Allen Martin, 26, told deputies he found the spider Monday in a hiking area in the southern foothills of Salt Lake City near Springville, according to a probable cause statement. He admitted arson but did not explain why he set the spider on fire.
The Utah County Sheriff’s Sgt. said deputies found a can of marijuana among his belongings, but he didn’t look high. Spencer Cannon.
Cannon said there was no evidence he set the fire on purpose, but he called it a reckless and inexplicable decision. In extreme drought conditions, the region and much of Utah is extremely dry.
“What made him stop to notice a spider and decide to try to burn it, we don’t know,” Cannon said. “There may not be a reason. He may not even know why.”
Wildfires have burned at least 60 acres and is 90% included As of Tuesday afternoon, according to state fire officials. No houses were damaged.
Court documents show that Martin was arrested on suspicion of reckless burns and possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
On Tuesday, he was in the Utah County Jail on nearly $2,000 bail. Don’t know if he has a lawyer.
Several wildfires are burning in the western U.S. amid hot, dry conditions.McKinney Fire in Northern California At least 55,000 acres burned More than 100 homes have been destroyed since the fire started on July 29. At least four people were killed in the blaze.
