Man charged in Star Blanket Cree Nation fire makes first court appearance

Ezekiel Stevenson appeared in Fort Qu’Appelle court facing Wildfire Act charges for a recent grassfire on Starblanket Cree Nation.

A man accused of setting a grass fire on Star Blanket Cree Nation made his first court appearance in Fort Qu’Appelle on Monday.

Ezekiel Thomas Stevenson is facing several charges under The Wildfire Act. These include:

• Wildfire Act S. 33(a) Starting a fire without taking precautions
• Wildfire Act S. 33(d) Fail to take all necessary precautions to ensure fire monitored/contained
• Wildfire Act S. 33(e) Fail to ensure that firefighting equipment available/readily accessible
• Wildfire Act S. 33(g) Cause a public hazard by exposing residents to excessive amounts of smoke and impairing visibility on public roadways
• Wildfire Act S. 36(b) Fail to notify an officer/person authorized if he or she is responsible for a fire in an area that is no longer under control.

Stevenson has yet to obtain a lawyer. He was notified in court legal aid may not be an option because the charges fall under The Wildfire Act.

He was advised to send an application to see if adjustments can be made.

Stevenson can face jail time and a fine if convicted.

On May 10, File Hills Police responded to a grass fire on the Star Blanket Cree Nation. The blaze carried on for three days, burning hundreds of acres of pastureland.

Little Black Bear First Nation, which neighbours Star Blanket, was also impacted by the fire.

No homes were destroyed by the fire. Stevenson is scheduled to make his next appearance in court on June 29.