- A Utah man was charged after he allegedly started a wildfire while trying to kill a spider.
- Cory Allan Martin was out for a walk when he tried to use a lighter to kill the spider, authorities said.
- A wildfire started in the process, but fire officials said no homes were damaged, according to the AP.
A Utah man was arrested after officials said he started a wildfire while trying to kill a spider with a lighter.
According to court records obtained by the Associated Press, Cory Allan Martin, 26, was charged with reckless burning and drug-related charges.
Martin reportedly told responding authorities that he saw the spider Monday while on a hike near Springville, Utah.
He “was found where the fire started and told police he tried to kill a spider with a lighter and started a fire,” police said. Utah County Sheriff’s Office said.
—Sheriff of Utah (@UCSO) August 3, 2022
According to the AP, Sgt. Spencer Cannon said officers also found marijuana in Martin’s possession, although he was not intoxicated at the scene.
“What made him stop and notice a spider and decide to burn it, we don’t know,” Cannon told the outlet. “There may be no why. Maybe he doesn’t even know why.’
Fire officials said the fire burned less than 1 square mile and no homes were affected as a result of his actions, the AP reported.
Data from the Utah County Jail reviewed on Sunday shows that Martin had been released from prison.