Man charged with arson in Whistler, B.C., wildfire
RCMP say man's actions not believed to be intentional
A man has been charged with arson in connection to a wildfire that broke out on Blackcomb Mountain — near Whistler, B.C. — in early July.
According to a release from Whistler RCMP, the man was detained near a "makeshift campsite" on crown land leased to the Whistler Blackcomb ski resort.
Police say the man's actions are not believed to be intentional, but were deemed to be criminal due to the damage caused and the fire ban that was in place at the time.
The man, whom police have not named, is scheduled to appear in Provincial Court on July 26.
The fire only reached one hectare in size and was quickly contained by fire crews, who used helicopters and Whistler Blackcomb's snow-making machines to battle the blaze.
A fire ban has since been put into effect across most of the province due to tinder-dry fire conditions.
As many as 16,000 people have been forced out of their homes due to wildfires, more than a hundred of which are still burning.