Life lesson: If you're wanted by cops during fire ban, don't light bonfire

Where there's smoke, there's a suspect.

The OPP say a 53-year-old Elliot Lake man wanted by police was arrested earlier this week because he decided to sit by a campfire — in the middle of a fire ban.

Members of the East Algoma Ontario Provincial Police were on a general patrol on May 31, at approximately 9:30 p.m., when they noticed people enjoying a campfire near Spruce Beach during the current fire ban, according to a press release.

"Police recognized the individuals and knew they were breaching prior release conditions by being together," says the OPP release. "Additionally, there were arrest warrants out for one of the two and a subsequent arrest was made."

Kevin Tasse is charged with two counts of failing to comply with a probation order and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Elliot Lake on Aug. 14.

None of the allegations have been tested in court and the accused is considered innocent unless proven guilty.