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 alleged arsonist responsible for the costly Bucktail Fire, was arrested earlier this month, according to the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office. 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 Montrose Daily Press reported. 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, according to the Montrose Count Sheriff’s Office. Even with the well-timed weather, the fire only reached 83% containment and would take over a week to fully extinguish.

Garber will face his preliminary demand hearing on Oct. 23.

The Bucktail Fire was one of the largest wildfires in Colorado this year and caused around $300,000 in damage, burning across nearly 11 square miles.

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