Two youth have admitted to playing with a lighter and causing the grass fire in Oliver Friday, April 16.
That same night, a 26-year-old Oliver man was arrested after being seen deliberately setting a field on fire on Black Sage Road.
At 5:15 p.m., Oliver RCMP were called to help the fire department for a grass fire north of the cell tower site at Oliver Mountain. Two youths, aged 13, were playing with a lighter and the fire they started quickly spread out of control.
A witness saw the boys’ action.
According to Oliver RCMP Sgt. Don Wrigglesworth, the boys spoke with a witness and also the fire department and admitted to their actions.
The fire was quickly brought under control by the fire department and BC Wildfire Services.
“Police spoke with the parents of the youth and restorative justice measures will be pursued,” said Wrigglesworth.
At the exact same time fire and police were dealing with the grass fire and two 13-year-olds, another fire was being deliberately set in a field on Black Sage Road.
A suspect was identified by witnesses and tried evading police by running from them and jumping into the irrigation canal. The man eventually needed rescuing from the frigid water by the Oliver Volunteer Fire Department who utilized a ladder to extricate him.
The 26-year-old male Oliver resident was released from custody the following day and faces a charge of arson.
READ MORE: Two fires deliberately set in Oliver this weekend
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