Man charged with Sask. hay bale fires in 2024 sentenced for arson

Logan Sieben set 30 fires last August

A former volunteer firefighter responsible for setting dozens of hay bale fires in Saskatchewan has been sentenced for his actions.

Logan Sieben, who was a member of the Macklin & District Fire Department, the same department that responded to the hay bale fires last year, will serve 18 months of probation and complete 200 hours of community service within 15 months, Judge Ian Mokoruk ruled, CBC reported.

In addition, Sieben can’t have any fire-starting materials.

The Crown also sought $76,500 in restitution to cover the fire department’s expenses related to the fires, but the judge declined to impose it.

The fires started last July.

The situation became serious enough to the point where a cash reward became available.

The Macklin & District Fire Department offered $3,000, but with community donors it grew to more than $20,000.

“It’s very random and all other the place,” Chief Justin Bast told CTV on August 20, 2024. “I have no idea why it’s happening. Someone seems to be doing it for kicks, and we don’t know if it’s one person or multiple people.”

Eight days later, Unity RCMP announced officers arrested Sieben after examining evidence.

In January 2025, Sieben pleaded guilty to arson causing property damage.

Chief Bast told CBC a more severe punishment like house arrest plus the restitution may have been more fitting.

But now it’s time to move on.

“It’s time to move forward,” he told CBC. “Our members have dealt with it professionally, but it’s over now and we’ll continue to provide the services that we do and just keep moving forward.”