UPDATED Thursday August 29, 2024 – 1340 CST – REGINA — Saskatchewan RCMP have charged a local man in relation to a hay bale fire near Macklin.
Logan Sieben, 25, of Macklin was arrested and charged Aug. 26 after an investigation began due to a July 31 fire.
In a post to social media the Macklin fire department confirmed that Sieben was a member of the fire department.
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“It is with profound sadness that we report this individual was a member of the fire department,” Chief Justin Bast wrote. “We deeply apologize to the public and hope that you understand that this rash of incidents, due to one individual’s actions, in no way represents the Macklin fire department, its members or what we stand for.”
Several bale and grass fires in the area occurred between July 28 and Aug. 25, leading the community to band together to offer a reward.
In a post on social media Thursday August 29, Chief Bast confirmed that the reward money would not be paid out as the crime was solved internally, and that donors to that reward fund would have their money returned.
Sieben was charged with one count of arson causing mischief, one count of arson with intent to defraud and one count of theft under $5,000, all under the Criminal Code. He will appear in Unity provincial court Nov. 18.
“Within the last month we responded to over 15 reports of deliberately set hay bale and grass fires,” said Unity RCMP Cpl. Christopher Neufeld.
“These fires resulted in property loss and greatly impacted our local farmers.”
He thanked the Macklin Fire Department for its assistance during the investigation.
RCMP advise land owners to move bales closer to where they can monitor them, if possible, to help prevent these types of crimes.
Contact karen.briere@producer.com
