Lethbridge Woman Faces Arson Charges After Allegedly Sparking Grass Fire

It was a tense Tuesday evening in Lethbridge when emergency crews were called to a significant grass fire that, it turns out, was allegedly set intentionally. Authorities have now confirmed that a 35-year-old local woman, Ashley Big Snake, is facing arson charges in connection with the incident, which thankfully resulted in no injuries.

The alarm was raised around 5:30 p.m. on June 18, with reports flooding in about a grass fire burning near the 300 block of University Drive West. Lethbridge Police officers, along with firefighters, converged quickly on the scene. Fire crews, in fact, were already battling a rather substantial blaze when police arrived, working hard to contain it before it could spread further or cause more serious damage.

What made this particular incident even more alarming were the witness accounts. Passersby, clearly unsettled, reportedly saw a woman deliberately igniting several small fires in the dry grass. After starting these fires, she then, according to reports, left the immediate vicinity. Police, acting swiftly on these descriptions, were able to locate and arrest a suspect nearby, identifying her as Ashley Big Snake.

Big Snake has since been formally charged with arson and has been remanded into custody. She is currently scheduled to make a court appearance on June 20. It's a sobering reminder, really, of the dangers that deliberate acts like this pose, especially in dry conditions, and the prompt, coordinated efforts of our emergency services in keeping our communities safe.