Accused in Holiday Inn fire set to be in court next week

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on March 3, 2023.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

A 33-year-old woman charged in relation to a hotel fire last Friday is scheduled to make an appearance in court next week, as long as she’s no longer in the hospital.

Kerissa Rikki Plume was scheduled to be in Lethbridge provincial court Thursday, but duty counsel lawyer Brett Carlson explained Plume was unable to attend because she is in the hospital, and would likely remain in the hospital at least through the weekend.

Plume is charged with one count of arson causing damage to property, and one count of arson to property with reckless disregard to whether the property is occupied.

Police charged Plume following a fire at about 1 a.m. last Friday at the Holiday Inn in the 2300 block of Mayor Magrath Drive South. Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services was called a fire in a room on the third floor of the hotel, and a woman, who was the lone occupant of the room, was taken to hospital.

Crews contained the fire to the single room and while no one else was injured, a number of hotel occupants were “displaced” because of smoke and water damage.

Police reported that the building was significantly damaged by the sprinkler system and damages were estmated to be about $1 million. An investigator determined the fire was caused by “improper disposal of smoking materials.”

A warrant was issued for Plume’s arrest after she left the hospital later in the day. Police confirmed on Tuesday, however, that she had been found.

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