Ammon man pleads guilty to starting Henry’s Creek Fire
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Editor’s note: This story has been updated with details from Lopez’s arraignment.
IDAHO FALLS — An Ammon man pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor Friday afternoon in connection to the Henry’s Creek Fire.
Previous stories on the Henry’s Creek Fire
Your photos of the fire can be found here and here.
Aerial video of area affected by fire
Video of community meeting held in Ririe on the fire
Kristian John Lopez declined an attorney and pleaded guilty to malicious injury to property by setting fire to prairie land.
The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office said the fire, which burned seven miles east of Idaho Falls this summer, ignited because Lopez was lighting bottle rockets in the area of Henry Creek and Taylor Mountain roads.
“Apparently Lopez and his friends attempted to put the fire out but was unsuccessful and called 911 to report the fire before leaving the area,” the sheriff’s office said in a news release.
After receiving anonymous tips via Crime Stoppers, investigators interviewed Lopez about the fire.
Lopez was in the Bonneville County Jail on unrelated warrants.
He will be sentenced in October. The charge carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. Restitution requested is up to the prosecutor’s office.
Lopez is being kept in custody due to a probation violation warrant out of Bannock County. He is being held on a $10,000 bond.
The Henry’s Creek Fire burned more than 50,000 acres. More than 260 personnel, along with engines, heavy equipment and aircraft helped to suppress the fire which took nearly two weeks to contain.
The county commission estimated it cost about $4.4 million. An official cost will not be available for about six months.