A young man accused of intentionally starting brush fires in downtown St. John’s in the midst of last year’s wildfires has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Twenty-one-year-old Caleb Boland-Pelkey faces three counts of arson with disregard for human life. He’s also on the hook for $150,000 in fines that were increased last year for anyone violating fire bans.

It’s alleged Boland-Pelkey set several fires in one night last August in the densely populated area between Lemarchant Road and New Gower Street.

That forced firefighting resources, already stretched thin by wildfires, to quickly pivot and extinguish the random downtown fires, preventing injuries and further property damage.

Boland-Pelkey appeared in provincial court this morning by phone from the west coast of the island, where he is living under strict conditions with a relative.

In pleading not guilty, he chose to be tried by Provincial Court judge, with a two-day trial set for late October.