Columbian metro editor
Published: July 25, 2015, 8:27 AM
Three Vancouver men who were allegedly shooting propane bottles have been arrested for starting the Colvin Fire, which burned forest land near Woodland this week.
Cowlitz County sheriff's deputies say they have arrested Michael J. Estrada-Cardenas, 22, Nathan C. Taylor, 21 and Adrian D. Taylor on suspicion of first-degree reckless burning, a felony. All have been jailed without bail pending a first court appearance. In addition to jail time, under state law they could be ordered to repay the cost of firefighting efforts.
The fire began last Sunday. Deputies say the three men shot four 16-ounce propane bottles in a forested area off Frederickson Road, east of Woodland, on a day when temperatures reached the high 90s and it hadn't rained in weeks.
After they shot the bottles with a .223 caliber A/R rifle, a 12 gauge shotgun and a 9mm pistol, they realized they had started a fire, according to deputies. They allegedly tried to put the flames out before they departed, but left some embers still burning, according to deputies.
The fire was reported that afternoon. Named the Colvin Fire, it burned 129 acres before being declared contained Friday. The fire did not threaten any structures, but fighting it required deployment of multiple wildland firefighting crews from around the region.
The case is being investigated by Cowlitz sheriff's Deputy Lorenzo Gladson and Senior Fire Investigator Albert Kassel of the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. The case was solved by a combination of analyzing evidence found at the scene and information from interviews of several people they were able to identify the three men, according to the sheriff's office.
Just too stupid for words.
Published: July 25, 2015, 8:27 AM
Three Vancouver men who were allegedly shooting propane bottles have been arrested for starting the Colvin Fire, which burned forest land near Woodland this week.
Cowlitz County sheriff's deputies say they have arrested Michael J. Estrada-Cardenas, 22, Nathan C. Taylor, 21 and Adrian D. Taylor on suspicion of first-degree reckless burning, a felony. All have been jailed without bail pending a first court appearance. In addition to jail time, under state law they could be ordered to repay the cost of firefighting efforts.
The fire began last Sunday. Deputies say the three men shot four 16-ounce propane bottles in a forested area off Frederickson Road, east of Woodland, on a day when temperatures reached the high 90s and it hadn't rained in weeks.
After they shot the bottles with a .223 caliber A/R rifle, a 12 gauge shotgun and a 9mm pistol, they realized they had started a fire, according to deputies. They allegedly tried to put the flames out before they departed, but left some embers still burning, according to deputies.
The fire was reported that afternoon. Named the Colvin Fire, it burned 129 acres before being declared contained Friday. The fire did not threaten any structures, but fighting it required deployment of multiple wildland firefighting crews from around the region.
The case is being investigated by Cowlitz sheriff's Deputy Lorenzo Gladson and Senior Fire Investigator Albert Kassel of the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. The case was solved by a combination of analyzing evidence found at the scene and information from interviews of several people they were able to identify the three men, according to the sheriff's office.
Just too stupid for words.
