(Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Arson investigation

Alleged wildfire bugs appear in court

Jun 12, 2025 | 4:44 PM

A mental health assessment has been ordered for a young woman accused of setting a fire last month in the area of Montreal Lake Cree Nation.

Cleo Halkett’s case was discussed Thursday at Prince Albert Provincial Court and adjourned to June 19 for a possible bail hearing.

According to a statement provided last week by Waskesiu RCMP, officers responded to a fire in a rural area off of Highway 969 on May 30. Investigators later concluded it had been intentionally set.

According to court records, Halkett has two outstanding charges related to arson as well as a separate accusation related to assault.

A source close to the incidents, told paNOW Halkett has an intellectual disability and may have difficulty comprehending the court process.

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The same source expressed concerns about the fact she’s sitting in jail and not in a hospital or group home setting.

This year, Saskatchewan has had 258 wildfires, and approximately 44 have been caused by lightning. The remaining fires are human caused and another case of alleged arson occurred on June 3.

The SPSA said recently that 30 of this year’s wildfires are due to arson although many were extinguished before they became serious.

Nipawin RCMP were called about a man reportedly lighting fires in a roadside ditch along Highway 55, near the turnoff to Snowden. When officers arrived, bystanders had already put out a small blaze.

Troy Ratt from Pelican Narrows appeared Wednesday at Nipawin Provincial Court and the case was adjourned to June 18.

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Blue Sky: @nigelmaxwell.bsky.social