Hood River District Attorney Indicts 15-Year-Old Who Allegedly Started Columbia River Gorge Wildfire

The boy was charged in juvenile court with reckless burning, depositing burning materials on forest lands, unlawful possession of fireworks, criminal mischief and recklessly endangering other persons.

Eagle Creek fire burns through the Columbia River Gorge (Brittanie Hanna-Anderson)
By Katie Shepherd

The Hood River County District Attorney has indicted the 15-year-old boy from Vancouver, Wash. who allegedly sparked the Eagle Creek Fire that blazed through the Columbia River Gorge in early September.

The boy, who has not been named, was charged in juvenile court with reckless burning, depositing burning materials on forest lands, unlawful possession of fireworks, criminal mischief and recklessly endangering other persons.

Witnesses saw the teenager toss a lit firecracker into dry brush, which ignited a fire that sent ash raining down on Portland and threatened to destroy treasured spots like Multnomah Falls.

According a a press release, the Hood River District Attorney has been working closely with the Multnomah County District Attorney because the fire burned extensive land within Multnomah County, but the boy will only face charges in Hood River County.

More details on the charges are listed in a press release:

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