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A man trying to cremate his dog accidentally started a wildfire in Colorado on Thursday, August 01, officials report.
According to KBTX News 3‘s report, an affidavit reveals 63-year-old Brent Garber was accused of starting the Bucktail Fire, which is considered as one of the largest fires in Colorado this year.
The affidavit also reveals that the fire, which ignited on August 01, covered 7,207 acres and damaged several acres of both private and public property and a cabin.
Police Cmdr. Bruce Schmalz reported seeing Garber driving in the area where the fire originated on an ATV and knew that Garber was living in a camper on nearby public land.
Garber put his dog in a pit with wood, and lit the wood on fire. He threw a spray can on the fire, which exploded and caught a tree on fire, which allegedly started the wildfire.
The affidavit further reveals that Garber tried to perform the remembrance ceremony for his dog, complete with a sign that read, “Rocket Dog. Rest in Peace Buddy.”
Furthermore, CPR News reports that investigators found the dugout with a partially burned dog and a memorial plaque suggesting that the dog lived from October 2017 until July 2024.
Witnesses that were cited in the report said Garber had told them the court order to euthanize his dog due to a fight Rocket was involved in with another dog.
In addition to these information, witnesses also told investigators that Garber “was really down” but that he “did not put the blame anywhere else and knew it was his fault.”
As a result of the wildfire, Garber was arrested earlier in September on suspicion of arson, which caused between $100,000 and $1 million in damages, and second-degree trespassing on agricultural land, Montrose Press reports.
He will appear in the Montrose County Courthouse on Wednesday, October 02 for a plea hearing.
And as of the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office’s latest update, the Bucktail Fire has been 83% contained.
