Serial arsonist banned from rural community

A serial arsonist who believes controlled burning is his “calling” was sentenced to nine months in jail and barred for two years from a southwestern Manitoba community after he deliberately set multiple grass fires during an active fire ban in May.

Phillip Andrew Unrau, 72, created a dangerous situation for residents in Margaret and a nearby Hutterite colony on the evening of May 21 when he lit several patches of grass on fire along a railway bed, provincial court Judge Shauna Hewitt-Michta said on Wednesday.

People in the community, located about 45 kilometres southeast of Brandon, saw the flames from a distance and called the fire department. While no residents saw Unrau light the fires, he made incriminating comments to witnesses and was found alone near the burning land, stretching 300 yards (274 metres), Hewitt-Michta said as she delivered her sentencing decision in Brandon.

“The damage to property here was minimal, but the emotional and psychological harm that Mr. Unrau causes to his neighbours is significant,” she said.

“They are understandably anxious that Mr. Unrau will damage their property, homes, town, or worse. The risk to emergency responders and others forced into action when Mr. Unrau lights fires is noteworthy as well.”

Unrau acted recklessly by setting the fires despite having been warned by the fire chief that a ban was in place and he fails to recognize the harm he has caused in committing his latest arson offence, she said.

“Mr. Unrau had no authorization, equipment, water supply or manpower necessary to safely conduct a controlled burn, and the fire posed a risk to nearby land, property and the community,” Hewitt-Michta said.

Unrau has been in custody at the Brandon Correctional Centre since his arrest on May 22. He has multiple convictions for arson that stretch back two decades.

He was fined $1,500 under the Manitoba Wildfires Act in 2025 and another $240 in 2003 and 2004, and received an 81-day jail sentence for arson that same year.

In October 2009, he was sentenced to five months in jail on two counts of arson for fires he set in Margaret in April 2008. One fire — set in grass, sticks and leaves — burned near the community’s wood-framed arena and a propane tank.

He was also convicted of arson in January 2016, when he was placed on supervised probation for three years for starting a grass fire south of the Margaret cemetery in August 2013.

In this incident, he was found with a jerry can and a lighter. A note in his vehicle stated, “Start Burning! Or God will.”

Unrau has a criminal record with other types of offending, including uttering threats to burn down Boissevain School, obstructing and assaulting police officers, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and flight from police.

“I believe the previous arson incidents generally resemble the circumstances of this case,” Hewitt-Michta said, noting that Unrau is a “unique” individual and his latest conviction will reflect that reality.

In his pre-sentence report, he rationalized his actions by emphasizing no one was injured, denying he caused any damage, noting there is no mention of arson in the Bible, and explaining his knowledge about natural disasters and the importance of controlled burning, she said.

“Mr. Unrau has a long-standing propensity to filter his perceptions of events and circumstances through a worldview shaped by conspiracy theories and unconventional ideologies,” Hewitt-Michta said.

“His beliefs colour his interactions with others and contribute to decisions and conduct that brings him into the criminal justice system.”

A previous psychological assessment found Unrau likely has a personality disorder and some of his family members say they are worried about his declining mental health and well-being, she said.

A building inspector recently visited his home in Margaret and cited hazard concerns about a makeshift chimney and a lack of egress options for emergency crews in the event of a fire.

Unrau relies on incendiary devices and the chimney in his home after he discontinued services with Manitoba Hydro following a disagreement years ago, Hewitt-Michta said.

She said his home is unsanitary, with too many cats and a hoarding situation.

“I am increasingly concerned that Mr. Unrau is mentally incapable of safely and appropriately managing his property and his personal affairs. It is clear family members fear for his safety and well-being and are at a loss for how to address the matter, given Mr. Unrau’s unwillingness to work with them,” she said.

His family has been searching for housing options to bring him closer to relatives in Boissevain, where he’s originally from.

While Unrau argued with the judge in court about his wish to return to his community, Hewitt-Michta sentenced him to spend 56 more days in custody, accounting for enhanced credit for time served, along with a two-year ban from Margaret.

“It’s not safe for the other residents of the community to have you living there. I don’t make that order lightly,” the judge said.

“I know that’s very difficult for you. I know you care about that town, and I know that’s where you want to be, but the situation has become too dangerous.”

The 275-day sentence followed a recommendation suggested by the Crown during Unrau’s trial earlier this year.

Other conditions included in his two-year supervised probation order are to attend counselling as directed, not to possess any incendiary devices or accelerants, not to light anything on fire, and not to go within 500 metres of the CanAm Hutterite Colony or contact two witnesses.

Unrau also received a 60-day sentence for a Manitoba Wildfires Act offence to be served concurrently.

The judge scheduled Unrau to appear in court in Killarney in January to check on whether he’s been able to follow his conditions, knowing it will be challenging for him.

» tadamski@brandonsun.com