A Macklin, Sask., man who was a member of the same fire department tasked with extinguishing the hay bales he is accused of lighting last summer pleaded guilty to arson.
Logan Sieben pleaded guilty to one count of arson causing property damage during a hearing in Unity Provincial Court on Tuesday. Sentencing is scheduled for March 17.
A series of hay fires in the Macklin area last summer left residents and the volunteer fire department baffled. Fire crews responded to 20 bale hay fires from July 28 to Aug. 25 of last year, according to the fire department. Macklin is about 250 kilometers west of Saskatoon.
A cash reward for information about the suspicious fires ultimately reached $26,500.
The mystery ended when RCMP arrested Sieben, then 25, on August 26. Sieben was a member of the Macklin Fire Department at the time.
Sieben still faces two charges, arson with intent to defraud and theft of less than $5,000, which could also be addressed during a scheduled March 17 appearance.
