A man from Nelson B.C., has been sentenced to two years, less a day, in custody after lighting four separate fires in three locations around the city in the heat of the 2024 wildfire season.
David Travis, 45, was sentenced in October in a Nelson Provincial courtroom, just over a year after being arrested for three counts of arson.
A sentencing report outlining the Travis’ actions, the sentencing decision and conditions of his parole, was published online in December.
In the decision, Judge Craig Sicotte said environmental factors like the hot dry weather and regional fire bans compound the severity of the offences.
“Intentionally lighting multiple fires in the locations that he did during hazardous fire conditions was so extremely dangerous that it created enormous risk of massive property destruction and loss of life,” said Judge Sicotte.
On July 24, 2024, the day of the arson, there were 91 active fires in B.C.’s West Kootenay region, 66 of which were burning out of control. Several communities in the region were on evacuation order due to the fires, and thick smoke was omnipresent.
Fire crews and resources from the City of Nelson were dispatched to impacted communities to fight the fires, leaving limited resources in town, said Judge Sicotte.
Also on July 24, a wildfire burned through Jasper Alta., reducing half of the mountainous city to rubble.
The sentencing report states that at 6:30 p.m., David Travis lit the first of four fires. He started a grass fire in Nelson’s Gyro Park. Two witnesses watched a man flee the scene and said the blaze spread laterally, which Judge Sicotte said likely means there were multiple ignition points.
The fire quickly grew to approximately 1000 square metres before being extinguished by the local fire department and a helicopter with a water bucket that happened to be in the area.
Travis’ backpack – containing lighters and a butane canister – was found, partially burned, at the park.
While the park fire was being extinguished, Travis broke into a nearby home that he had no connection to.
He piled cardboard and a propane canister on a desk in the house and lit it on fire. Then, he carried three full garbage bags outside and lit the third fire of the day, in the yard.
Witnesses noticed the fires and intervened, working to extinguish the blazes before damage occurred and until firefighters arrived.
While the fires in and outside the home were being extinguished, Travis fled and crossed the highway into an industrial area. There, witnesses saw him light a fire in a bush. The witnesses called emergency services to report the fire.
Travis was arrested nearby with two lighters still in his possession.
He pleaded guilty to the three counts of arson, one for each fire location, waiving his right to a trial. Judge Sicotte said this saved the court significant amount of time and resources, and shows Travis takes responsibility for his actions.
A pre-sentence report done by a forensic psychologist states Travis chronically experiences auditory hallucinations and exhibits symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder and attention hyperactive deficit disorder.
At the time of the arson he was experiencing homelessness, was not taking prescribed psychiatric medication and was using crystal methamphetamine.
Judge Sicotte said Travis provided limited explanation for why he lit the fires, but believed human trafficking was taking place in the city. Judge Sicotte presumes Travis intended to punish or cleanse the city by burning it down.
Travis’ Counsel told the Court that the accused is remorseful for starting the fires.
Since his arrest, Travis has been living at a treatment centre under the conditions of his bail.
Travis was sentenced to two years, less a day in custody for the three convictions of arson. He has already spent 91 days in custody on these charges and was granted credit for time served at a rate of 1.5, which equates to 136 days. This means his remaining sentence on counts 1, 2 and 3 is 593 days in custody.
Upon his release, Travis will be required to abide by the conditions of his three-year probation, which include staying 10km away from the city of Nelson. He is also prohibited from consuming drugs or alcohol and may not possess firearms or flammable or explosive products.
