Woman charged with arson after coulee grass fire

By Lethbridge Herald on January 15, 2026.

Herald Photo by Alejandra Pulido-Guzman Damage from a grass fire that burned through a large area of the coulees on Tuesday can be seen at Mountain View Cemetery Thursday morning.

By Alejandra Pulido- Guzman

Lethbridge Herald

Lethbridge Police have charged a 44-year-old Audrey Rae Small Legs with arson in connection with a grass fire that burned an area of the coulees near the Mountain View Cemetery earlier this week. 

 Lethbridge Police and Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services responded to reports of a grass fire near the cemetery on Jan. 13, at approximately 12:45 p.m. and crews from five stations responded and extinguished the flames. 

Multiple homes and buildings in the Scenic Heights apartment complex were evacuated as a precaution, but no one was injured.

 Police on scene were alerted to a suspicious female running from the fire. She was quickly located near the cemetery fence line and taken into custody without incident. 

LPS said witnesses had observed a lone female near the fire who proceeded to flee as it spread rapidly due to the wind. Personal property belonging to the subject was seized nearby along with a lighter. The woman was subsequently charged with arson.

 There was no damage to gravestones in the cemetery and firefighters remained on scene for several hours after the fire to ensure there were no flare-ups.

 Small Legs is charged with three counts of arson, disregard for human life and failing to comply with the conditions of a probation order. 

Following a Judicial Interim Release hearing, Small Legs was remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear in court today.