PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The 15-year-old identified as the person who sparked the Eagle Creek Fire was arraigned in juvenile court recently, the Oregon State Police said Thursday.
The teen, who has not been identified, faces allegations of reckless burning, depositing burning materials on forest lands, unlawful possession of fireworks, criminal mischief and recklessly endangering others. The teen, who is from Vancouver, faces the charges in Hood River County.
All charges are misdemeanors and a legal expert source told KOIN 6 News the 15-year-old is likely only to get probation. Technically, the max sentence the suspect could face is a year of incarceration for each charge and that it could be ordered consecutively, but that is not historically or legally what will happen.
OSP shared with KOIN 6 News a compilation of threats made on Facebook against the suspect.
One of many threats madeon Facebook against the Eagle Creek Fire suspect (Courtesy: OSP)One of many threats madeon Facebook against the Eagle Creek Fire suspect (Courtesy: OSP)
Friends of the Columbia River Gorge, a non-profit dedicated to protecting the scenic area, released a statement on the charges.
“Fireworks are illegal at any time on any federal lands. What happens next is for the courts to decide. This is a tragedy all around. The Eagle Creek fire has had a tremendous impact on the Gorge and Friends of the Columbia Gorge is focused on efforts to heal the land, trails, and communities affected by the fire.”
Authorities said he’s being charged in Hood River County because that’s where the fire began on Sept. 2.
How it began
The fire near the Eagle Creek Trail in Cascade Locks erupted near the already-burning Indian Creek Trail and sent a massive plume of smoke and visible bright flames over the Columbia River Gorge, forcing the evacuation of hikers, campers and residents in more than 100 homes.
A total of 153 hikers made their way back to safety that Sunday after taking shelter overnight from the massive fire burning in the Columbia River Gorge. Everyone was accounted for and one person received medical attention for exhaustion and dehydration.
By 5 p.m. Sept. 3, Governor Kate Brown invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act to help fight the Eagle Creek Fire.
The Vancouver teen was suspected of using a firework that caused the Eagle Creek Fire, which has torched more than 48,000 acres to date and sparked the now-contained Archer Fire on the other side of the Columbia River.
The teen was contacted by officers in the parking lot of the trailhead and was interviewed, but no arrests or formal charges were made at that time.
KOIN 6 News will have more information throughout the day.
Eagle Creek Fire, September 2017
An aerial view of the Eagle Creek Fire, September 14, 2017 (Hood River Sheriff's Office)
The Eagle Creek Fire covers more than 32,000 acres, September 6, 2017 (Map: InciWeb)
Destruction from the Eagle Creek Fire can be seen from Chopper 6, Thursday September 7 2017. (KOIN)
Fire crews start a backburn around the perimeter to help stop the progress of the Eagle Creek Fire near Cascade Locks, September 6, 2017 (KOIN)
ODOT crews clean up along I-84 from the Eagle Creek Fire, September 14, 2017 (KOIN)
Crews are protecting Multnomah Falls from the Eagle Creek Fire, which grew to 32,000 acres Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017. (KOIN)
Damage from the Eagle Creek Fire along Highway 30 includes a landslide. (KOIN-TV/Brent Weisberg, 9/11/2017)
Destruction from the Eagle Creek Fire can be seen from Chopper 6, Thursday September 7 2017. (KOIN)
Crews are protecting Multnomah Falls from the Eagle Creek Fire, which grew to 32,000 acres Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017. (KOIN)
Fire crews start a backburn around the perimeter to help stop the progress of the Eagle Creek Fire near Cascade Locks, September 6, 2017 (KOIN)
Wildfire smoke covers Oregon, September 6 2017. (NASA)
The Eagle Creek Fire covers more than 32,000 acres, September 6, 2017 (Map: Bureau of Land Management)
Ray Johnston holds his dog Poppy at the shelter for Archer Fire evacuees at the Skamania County Fairgrounds, September 6, 2017 (KOIN)
The smoky sky over downtown Portland from the Eagle Creek Fire, September 5, 2017 (KOIN)
Members of Multnomah County Search and Rescure pose in front of Multnomah Falls on Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017 (Multnomah County S&R Twitter).
Residents of Corbett prepared to evacuate because of the Eagle Creek Fire, September 5, 2017 (KOIN)
A man tries to work a field near the Archer Fire in Skamania County, September 5, 2017 (KOIN)
Evacuees from the Eagle Creek Fire took shelter at Mt. Hood Community College, September 5, 2017 (KOIN)
Evacuees from the Eagle Creek Fire took shelter at Mt. Hood Community College, September 5, 2017 (KOIN)
A photo of the Eagle Creek Fire from Stevenson, Washington, at 6 a.m. on Sunday morning, September 3, 2017 (Courtesy -- Glenn Daman)
A map of the Eagle Creek Fire as of 4 p.m., September 5, 2017 (Eagle Creek Fire Facebook page)
A time lapse of the Eagle Creek Fire. (Oca Hoeflein)
4,800 acre Eagle Creek Fire jumps to Washington side. (Nathan Zaremskiy)
Ash on a car in Beaverton, September 5 2017. (KOIN)
The Moon appeared red because of wildfire smoke from the West Coast, September 4, 2017 (Courtesy: Jack Martin)
The tunnel at Oneonta Gorge burned on the Columbia River Hwy, Sept.. 5, 2017. (Courtesy photo)
A person evacuating the Eagle Creek Wildfire. (KOIN)
Portland police pitched in to help with evacuations from the Eagle Creek Fire, September 5, 2017 (PPB Twitter)
Eagle Creek Fire, September 5 2017. (KOIN)
Members of the media listen to officials update details on the Eagle Creek Fire, September 5, 2017 (KOIN)
Smoke from the Eagle Creek Fire blankets the Bridge of the Gods, which was closed to southbound traffic on September 4, 2017. (KOIN)
Gov. Kate Brown updates the media about the rapidly spreading Eagle Creek Fire in the Columbia River Gorge, September 5, 2017 (KOIN)
A courtesy photo from a hiker on the trail Saturday afternoon looking at the fire (Courtesy).
The Eagle Creek Fire on September 2, 2017.
The evacuation map from the Eagle Creek Fire in the Columbia River Gorge, September 4, 2017 (Hood River Sheriff's Office)
Smoke seen above the Columbia Gorge stemming from a fire in Cascade Locks (Courtesy -- Christina Hendgen)
Hikers who spent the night at Tunnel Falls during the Eagle Creek Fire celebrate after hiking to safety, September 3, 2017 (KOIN)
Live look from Chopper 6 at the Eagle Creek Fire (7:23 p.m., Sept. 2, 2017)
Live look from Chopper 6 at the Eagle Creek Fire (7:00 p.m., Sept. 2, 2017)
Pets and people evacuated their Cascade Locks homes on September 3, 2017 due to the Eagle Creek Fire. (KOIN)
Live look from Chopper 6 at the Eagle Creek Fire (7:23 p.m., Sept. 2, 2017)
The Eagle Creek Fire on September 2, 2017.
A Cascade Locks family, who just bought their home 6 weeks ago, evacuated due to the Eagle Creek Fire. They hope their home is safe. (KOIN)
Black hawk rescue
The Eagle Creek Fire on September 2, 2017.
A group of Cascade Locks evacuees say they did this before in 2003. Dozens were told to evacuate on September 3, 2017 due to the Eagle Creek fire. (KOIN)
The Eagle Creek Fire on September 2, 2017.
The Eagle Creek Fire on September 2, 2017.
The Eagle Creek Fire on September 2, 2017.
The Eagle Creek Fire grew to more than 10,000 acres by Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017. (KOIN)
The Eagle Creek Fire on September 2, 2017.
The American Red Cross opened a shelter at the Skamania County Fairgrounds to house evacuees who left their Cascade Locks homes due to the Eagle Creek fire on September 3, 2017. (KOIN)
The Eagle Creek Fire on September 2, 2017.
Smoke from the Eagle Creek Fire, as seen from Cascade Locks on Sunday, September 3, 2017. (KOIN)
The Columbia River Gorge on September 3, 2017 as a 3,000 acre wildfire burns in the Eagle Creek Trail area. (KOIN)
Smoke from the Eagle Creek Fire in the Columbia River Gorge from across the river in Stevenson, Washington. (KOIN)
Smoke from the Eagle Creek Fire in the Columbia River Gorge from across the river in Stevenson, Washington. (KOIN)
Smoke from the Eagle Creek Fire seen from North Bonneville on September 4, 2017. (KOIN)
The sun seen through hazy smoke in the Columbia River Gorge on September 4, 2017. (KOIN)
The Eagle Creek fire surrounds Munra Point in the Columbia River Gorge on September 4, 2017. (MSCO)
ODOT crews clean up along I-84 from the Eagle Creek Fire, September 14, 2017 (KOIN)
Firefighters were able to save the historic Multnomah Fall Lodge from the Eagle Creek Fire (9-11-2017/KOIN - Brent Weisberg)
Damage from the Eagle Creek Fire along Highway 30. (KOIN-TV/Brent Weisberg, 9/11/2017)
