Man trying to cremate his dog sparked wildfire in Colorado, authorities say

NUCLA, Colo. (AP) — Wildfire investigators looking for the cause of blaze in western Colorado last month discovered the partially burned remains of a dog — leading to the conclusion that a man’s attempted cremation of his pet sparked a fire that damaged private property including a cabin.

Law enforcement arrested the man earlier this month and he is now charged with arson and trespassing, court documents show. Authorities say the cremation ceremony started the Bucktail Fire on Aug. 1 that’s estimated to have caused about $200,000 in damages and burned about 11 square miles (28 square kilometers), the Denver Post reported . The burn is now largely contained.

His dog, named Rocket, had been in a fight with another dog and was euthanized under court in Nucla, a town on Colorado’s western border with Utah, according to the arrest affidavit.

According to Nexstar partner station KREX in Grand Junction , Brent Garber, 63, had been living in a camper on BLM property in the Mountain View area of 25 Road near where the fire started.

His pet’s cremation got out of control when a spray can he threw into the blaze blew and lit a tree on fire, according to court records.

Minutes after the fire was reported, law enforcement witnessed the man driving an ATV away from the blaze. It was first reported by the Montrose Daily Press .

KREX reported that Garber faces the following charges:

• Second-degree arson ($100,000-$1,000,000) – Knowingly set fire to his dog which later caused damages to several properties which totaled to approximately $182,178.78
• Fourth-degree arson ($100,000-$1,000,000) – Knowingly set fire to his dog which later caused damage to a cabin which totaled approximately $125,000
• Second-degree trespassing (zoned agricultural) – Knowingly entered the premises of another which was fenced and had sign reading “Private Property” and a yellow sign on the fence post to the right of the gate that read “NO TRESPASSING.”

At the site, etched on a large rock above Rocket’s remains, was written dates and “Rocket Dog, Rest in Peace Buddy,” according to an arrest affidavit. A bone was glued below the epitaph.

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