The Utah County Sheriff’s Office arrested the suspect Monday in Springville after he told officers he tried to burn the eight-legged animal with a lighter. Corey Alan Martin, 26, of Draper, Utah, told officers he spotted the spider while hiking in the foothills south of Salt Lake City. He didn’t explain why he was trying to burn the spider. In a tweet, police said they found marijuana and drug paraphernalia in his backpack after his arrest, and Utah County Sergeant Spencer Cannon said there was no evidence to suggest he set the fire on purpose. However, Sgt Cannon called it a reckless and puzzling decision. Martin has been held in jail on nearly $2,000 (£1,643) bail. “What led him to stop and notice a spider and decide to try and burn it, we don’t know,” Sergeant Cannon said. “There may not be a why. He may not even know why.” Read more from Sky News: Texans seek shelter in public libraries Shocking images show Europe on fire The fire spread quickly up the mountain and had burned less than 1 square mile (1 square kilometer) as of Tuesday, fire officials said. No homes were damaged. Large parts of Utah are currently experiencing severe drought conditions, while nearby states, including California, have experienced wildfires in recent weeks.