Crime & Safety

Woodinville Man Charged in Summer Fire That Cost $2 Million to Put Out

A Woodinville man is facing charges for allegedly sparking the costly Dump Fire in Utah this summer that forced thousands of people to flee their homes, The Associated Press is reporting.

A Woodinville man is one of two men facing charges for allegedly sparking the costly Dump Fire in the Saratoga Springs, Utah, area this summer that forced thousands of people to flee their homes, The Associated Press is reporting

Jeffrey Conant, 42, of Woodinville, and Kenneth Nielsen, 37, of Washington, Utah, and are charged with reckless burning and using prohibited targets, according to court records filed this week in 4th District Court in Provo. Both are misdemeanors.

Investigators said the men were shooting on the morning of June 21 when they hit an explosive target that ignited some dry vegetation. Saratoga Springs is about 35 miles south of Salt Lake City, Utah.

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The fire burned more than 5,500 acres and cost $2.1 million to put out, officials said. About 2,500 people were forced to evacuate, according to the Times report.

The fire is also blamed for leaving a hillside barren, leading to major erosion and flooding that damaged homes in Saratoga Springs in September.

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Conant didn't immediately respond Friday morning to messages from the Associated Press seeking comment.

Jason Curry, public information officer for the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, told The Salt Lake Tribune Thursday that the case is an example of the dangers of target shooting.

"Target shooting itself can be fun and even shooting exploding targets," he said. But he noted it’s not smart to shoot when there are red-flag warnings in the middle of summer.


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