One man has been arrested after allegedly trying to cremate his dog and then starting a wildfire, named the Bucktail Fire, in Nucla, Colo., in early August, according to the Associated Press, The Denver Post and The Montrose Daily Press.
Brent Scott Garber, 63, was arrested on Sept. 5, according to Montrose County Sheriff's Office.He was charged with arson and trespassing. He was identified as a suspect after a commander with the sheriff's office saw him driving away on an ATV just minutes after the fire started, The Denver Post reported, citing an arrest affidavit.
The commander then met with state fire investigators and discovered a dug-out cave in the spot where the fire originated. A partially burned dog's body was found in the cave, along with a large rock with the words “Oct. 2017 July 2024, Rocket Dog, Rest in Peace Buddy” in bone glued on the surface, according to the outlet.
Rocket, who was later confirmed to be Garber's dog, had been ordered by a judge to be euthanized after he got into a fight with another dog, according to the affidavit.
The affidavit alleged Garber put his dog in a pit with wood and lit it on fire before tossing a spray can into the flames, which blew out and hit a nearby tree.
Garber lived in a camper near the fire’s initial starting point. Witnesses later told investigators that Garber told them he accidentally started the fire.
Garber appeared at the Montrose County Courthouse on Wednesday, Sept. 25, according to USA Today. His preliminary demand hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 23.
The Bucktail Fire, one of Colorado’s largest fires this year, caused around $300,000 in damage across public and private property. It burned more than 7,200 acres. No evacuations were issued, and no injuries were reported, per USA Today.
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The Montrose County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for more information on Friday.
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