A 63-year-old man was accused of beginning a wildfire in Colorado whereas he was attempting to cremate his canine, in line with native media experiences.
The Bucktail Fire began on Aug. 1 north of Nucla, about 350 miles west of Denver, and destroyed greater than 7,200 acres of personal and nationwide forest land and one house earlier than it was introduced underneath management.
Brent Scott Garber, 63, was accused of arson and trespassing after investigators mentioned he sparked the Bucktail Fire whereas attempting to cremate his canine, the Denver Post reported, citing a Montrose County Sheriff’s Office affidavit. No accidents had been reported, and the reason for the incident was initially listed as unknown.
Garber was first recognized as a suspect after an officer with the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office acknowledged him as he was driving away in an ATV from the scene of the fireplace, simply minutes after it was reported, the Denver Post mentioned, citing an arrest affidavit.
‘Rest in peace buddy'
The officer and state fireplace investigators later discovered a dug-out cave with {a partially} burned physique of a canine on the fireplace’s place to begin. A big rock with the phrases “Oct. 2017 July 2024, Rocket Dog, Rest in Peace Buddy” carved on it, with a bone glued beneath, was additionally discovered on the web site, the native media outlet reported.
Rocket, who was Garber's canine, was euthanized by Nucla city officers after a decide's order as a result of the animal obtained concerned right into a battle with one other canine, the affidavit mentioned, as per the Denver Post and KKCO.
Witnesses later additionally informed investigators that Garber, who lived in a camper close to the fireplace’s origin level, informed them he by accident began the fireplace after a sprig can he threw into the pit blew up and lit a tree on fireplace.
The affidavit alleged Garber had put his canine in a pit with wooden and lit the wooden on fireplace earlier than tossing the spray can into the flames.
One of Colorado's largest fires this yr
The Bucktail Fire grew to become one of many largest fires in Colorado this yr, as per KKCO, and damaging private and non-private property and no less than one constructing. No evacuations had been issued. The fireplace was about 83% contained by August 13, as per Inciweb and extra updates weren't instantly obtainable. The sheriff’s workplace, within the affidavit, estimated damages from the fireplace to be round $300,000, the native media outlet reported.
Garber was arrested on Sept. 5, in line with sheriff office records. He appeared on the Montrose County Courthouse Wednesday and his preliminary demand listening to is scheduled for Oct. 23, a courtroom official informed USA TODAY Thursday.
The Montrose County Sheriff’s Office didn't instantly reply to USA TODAY's request for an replace on the incident and it's not identified if Garber remains to be in custody.
Saman Shafiq is a trending information reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and comply with her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
