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There were actually two fires burning including the Dry Creek Fire: Finlinson, Sheriff Richard Jacobson and other county officials confirmed a second fire investigation is underway over what sparked the Dry Creek Fire. It scorched 1,800 acres near Oak City by Monday and led to the evacuation of camping areas and cabins in nearby canyons. Throughways into Fishlake National Forest were also closed throughout the fire zone, including Oak Creek, Dry Creek and Fool Creek roads.
County Fire Warden Landon Rowley said the fire started on private property. The owner has been uncooperative with investigators, refusing to answer questions without an attorney present, Rowley said.
Jacobson said one rationale for releasing information about the four arrests Sunday was to calm any public angst about so many fires erupting at once.
“Given the dynamics of all these fires popping up at the same time, there would be concerns there was a single entity, perhaps maliciously behind these fires, and that’s not the case,” he said. “While it is tragic and heartbreaking for those being held culpable, at this point, it was an accident. The other relief of telling the story is these aren’t arsons, these aren’t malicious starts. That’s a concern also.”
County Fire Warden Landon Rowley said the fire started on private property. The owner has been uncooperative with investigators, refusing to answer questions without an attorney present, Rowley said.
Jacobson said one rationale for releasing information about the four arrests Sunday was to calm any public angst about so many fires erupting at once.
“Given the dynamics of all these fires popping up at the same time, there would be concerns there was a single entity, perhaps maliciously behind these fires, and that’s not the case,” he said. “While it is tragic and heartbreaking for those being held culpable, at this point, it was an accident. The other relief of telling the story is these aren’t arsons, these aren’t malicious starts. That’s a concern also.”