A Lethbridge woman is facing serious charges after police say she set two fires at a busy downtown property while firefighters were still on scene battling the first blaze.
What Happened
Early on the morning of March 5, Lethbridge Police responded to a trespassing call at the Melcor Centre along the 200 block of 4 Avenue South just after 6:30 a.m. Security staff flagged a woman they recognized someone who had previously been issued a trespassing notice and was bound by court conditions prohibiting her from being on the property.
Officers found her inside a garbage compactor near the building's loading dock. She was arrested. Then, almost immediately after she was removed from the area, flames and smoke started pouring out of the compactor.
Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services rolled in to put out the blaze. While crews were still working the scene, police spotted a second fire this one set behind a compost bin about five metres from the compactor. Black scorch marks were visible on the brick wall beside it. Firefighters extinguished that fire too.
Both fires were set within close range of the Melcor Centre building and an adjacent parkade where staff were present at the time.
Two Lighters Seized
During a search following her arrest, police seized two lighters from the woman.
The Charges
Audrey Rae Small Legs, 45, of Lethbridge, is charged with:
Two counts of arson with disregard for human life
Two counts of failing to comply with a probation order
Small Legs was remanded into custody and appeared in court on March 6.
Why "Disregard for Human Life" Matters
Arson with disregard for human life is among the more serious arson charges under the Criminal Code of Canada it applies when a fire is set in circumstances where people could reasonably be harmed, regardless of whether anyone was actually injured. With staff in the building and parkade at the time, and firefighters actively working the scene when the second fire was discovered, prosecutors clearly viewed the situation as one that put lives at risk.
Source: Lethbridge Police Service March 6, 2026
Charges have not been proven in court.
