It is unknown why the man attempted to light a fire and it’s also unknown what kind of spider it was.
A man in the US state of Utah started a 60-acre wildfire after police allege he was trying to kill a spider with a lighter.
26-year-old Cory Allan Martin told police that he saw a spider while hiking in the mountains near Springville a town just outside Salt Lake City when he tried to light it on fire.
What erupted from that attempt was a wildfire that lasted almost 24 hours.
He was arrested with suspicion of starting the fire, possessing marijuana, and possessing drug paraphernalia as when officers searched him, they found a jar of marijuana.
Two fire crews, an aero water tanker and several helicopters with water reserves were needed to extinguish the fire, although luckily nobody was injured and local residents were safe.
Sergeant Spencer Cannon spoke to local news channel KSL saying, “We don’t know why he was doing that”.
“Not sure exactly why he felt the need to have to burn the spider, but you know, all the regret in the world doesn’t change the outcome based on whatever reason there was for him doing that.”
He added that Martin acknowledged starting the fire and had no intention to do so- with no issue- but has yet to say why he wanted to light a spider on fire.
“There may not be a why. He might not even know a why,” said Cannon.
The man was taken to the Utah County Jail where he was later released on a $2000 bail.
