Wildfire conviction sends strong message: Investigator
A Ministry of Environment investigator said he hopes the recent conviction of a Hall Lake man for lighting several wildfires sends a strong message to the entire province.
Donald Halkett Jr. recently pleaded guilty to charges of mischief and failing to comply with a fire ban in a La Ronge courtroom. According to the Ministry of Environment, Halkett admitted to flicking lit wooden matches into the woods while walking down a rural trail outside of Hall Lake in July of 2015, which led to four small wildfires and forced firefighters away from several much larger blazes which were threatening other northern communities.
Halkett Jr. was handed a six-month conditional sentence including a nightly curfew and was ordered to complete 100 hours of community service. More significantly, he was ordered to pay $41,393 to cover the costs of fighting the fires, and $250 for contravening the fire ban.
Ministry of Environment Senior Investigator Ken Ness said he hopes the story sends a message to the public that intentionally lighting a wildfire has serious consequences.