A 44-year-old Lethbridge woman is in custody and facing serious arson charges following a grass fire in a southside coulee that led to the precautionary evacuation of nearby homes.
Fire Erupts Near Mountain View Cemetery
Emergency crews were dispatched to the scene at approximately 12:45 p.m. on Tuesday, January 14, 2026. The fire was burning in the coulees between the 1200 and 1600 blocks of Scenic Drive South, an area close to the Mountain View Cemetery.
Firefighters from five different stations responded to the call and successfully extinguished the flames. While the fire spread rapidly due to windy conditions, no injuries were reported.
Witnesses Spot Suspicious Activity, Leading to Arrest
According to the Lethbridge Police Service, officers on the scene were informed about a suspicious woman seen fleeing from the area of the fire. Police located and arrested the individual without incident near the cemetery fence line.
In a news release issued Wednesday, police stated, “Investigation determined witnesses had observed a lone female near the fire who proceeded to flee as it spread rapidly due to the wind.”
Authorities seized personal property belonging to the woman from the vicinity, along with a lighter. The investigation led to arson charges.
Suspect Identified and Remanded into Custody
The accused has been identified as Audrey Rae Small Legs, 44, of Lethbridge. She is charged with three counts of arson – disregard for human life, as well as one count of failing to comply with probation order conditions.
Following a bail hearing, Small Legs was remanded into custody. She is scheduled to make her next court appearance on Friday.
Police confirmed that the fire did not cause any damage to gravestones within the adjacent Mountain View Cemetery. The incident serves as a reminder of the dangers posed by grass fires, especially under dry and windy conditions, and the serious legal consequences of deliberately setting them.
