One man has been arrested after allegedly making an attempt to cremate his canine after which beginning a wildfire, named the Bucktail Hearth, in Nucla, Colo., in early August, in line with the Associated Press, The Denver Post and The Montrose Daily Press.
Brent Scott Garber, 63, was arrested on Sept. 5, in line with Montrose County Sheriff’s Office. He was charged with arson and trespassing. He was recognized as a suspect after a commander with the sheriff’s workplace noticed him driving away on an ATV simply minutes after the fireplace began, The Denver Put up reported, citing an arrest affidavit.
The commander then met with state hearth investigators and found a dug-out cave within the spot the place the fireplace originated. {A partially} burned canine’s physique was discovered within the cave, together with a big rock with the phrases “Oct. 2017 July 2024, Rocket Canine, Relaxation in Peace Buddy” in bone glued on the floor, in line with the outlet.
Rocket, who was later confirmed to be Garber’s canine, had been ordered by a choose to be euthanized after he obtained right into a struggle with one other canine, in line with the affidavit.
The affidavit alleged Garber put his canine in a pit with wooden and lit it on hearth earlier than tossing a sprig can into the flames, which blew out and hit a close-by tree.
Garber lived in a camper close to the fireplace’s preliminary start line. Witnesses later instructed investigators that Garber instructed them he unintentionally began the fireplace.
Garber appeared on the Montrose County Courthouse on Wednesday, Sept. 25, in line with USA Today. His preliminary demand listening to is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 23.
The Bucktail Hearth, one in every of Colorado’s largest fires this yr, precipitated round $300,000 in harm throughout private and non-private property. It burned greater than 7,200 acres. No evacuations have been issued, and no accidents have been reported, per USA At this time.
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The Montrose County Sheriff’s Workplace didn’t instantly reply to PEOPLE’s request for extra info on Friday.