Colorado wildfire in August sparked by man’s attempt to cremate his dog, authorities say
A wildfire that tore through more than 7,000 acres in western Colorado in early August was sparked by a man’s attempt to cremate his dead dog, according to wildfire investigators.
Brent Scott Garber, the alle🎀ged arsonist responsible for the costly Bucktail Fire, was arr𒐪ested earlier this month, according to the . He was charged with arson and trespassing, according to court documents.
Garber had been identified as a suspect early on in the investigation after a local commander with the sheriff’s office spotted him driving an ATV away from the fire just minutes after it was reported, the . Garber also lived in a camper near the fire’s origin, according to the arrest affidavit.
Colorado fire investigators parsing through the fire’s starting point discovered the partially burned body of a dog near a large rock reading “Oct. 2017 – July 2024, Rocket Dog, Rest In Peace Buddy.” There was a bone glued to the makeshift headstone just below the epitaph.
Rocket was owned by Garber and euthanized under a judge’s orders after getting into a fight with another dog, according to the arrest affidavit.
The affidavit claimed that Garber lost control during Rocket’s sendoff when he threw a spray can into the flames, which scattered the blaze and lit a tree on fire, according to court records.
The fire only spread from there, but was largely extinguished by rainfall, accordin𓄧g to the . Even with the well-timed weather, the fire only reached 83% containment and would take over ꦚa week to fully extinguish.
Garber will face his prel🍌iminary demand hearing on Oct. 23.
The Bucktail Fire was one of the largest wildfires i♛n Colorado this year and cauꦆsed around $300,000 in damage, burning across nearly 11 square miles.
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