• A Utah man was charged after reportedly starting a wildfire while trying to kill a spider.
  • Cory Allan Martin was hiking when he tried to use a lighter to kill the spider, authorities said.
  • A wildfire started in the process, but fire officials said no homes were damaged, per the AP.

A Utah man was taken into custody after officials said he started a wildfire while trying to kill a spider with a lighter.

According to court records obtained by the Associated Press, 26-year-old Cory Allan Martin was charged with reckless burning and drug-related charges. 

Martin reportedly told responding authorities that he saw the spider while hiking near Springville, Utah, on Monday.

He "was found where the fire started and told police he tried to kill a spider with a lighter and in the process started a fire," the Utah County Sheriff's Office said. 

 

Per the AP, Sgt. Spencer Cannon said that deputies also found marijuana in Martin's possession, although he was not under the influence at the scene.

"What led him to stop and notice a spider and decide to try to burn it, we don't know," Cannon told the outlet. "There may not be a why. He might not even know why."

Fire officials said the blaze burned less than 1 square mile, and no homes were affected as a result of his actions, the AP reported. 

Utah County Jail records viewed on Sunday show that Martin was booked out of jail. 

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