Sweet Creek Fires were purposefully set. Accused arsonist now charged, Oregon cops say

More than 500 acres have been scorched in the Sweet Creek Fires near Mapleton, Oregon, KEZI reported.

After officials determined the fires, which started Sunday, werethe work of an arsonist Lane County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a man in connection with the crime, the sheriff’s office posted on Facebook.

Elias Newton Pendergrass, 44, of Mapleton, was arrested Tuesday and faces a charge of first-degree arson, according to the sheriff’s office.

The Lane County District Attorney’s Office accused Pendergrass of intentionally setting the fire on “protected property,” which they predicted caused about $50,000 in damage, according to court documents sent to McClatchy News in an email.

Community members helped officials determine “the origin of the fires,” by calling in tips, the sheriff’s office said. The case has been passed on to the district attorney’s office, according to the sheriff.

The Sweet Creek Fires — about 40 miles west of Eugene — started as three that merged into one fire, KTVZ reported.

The fire, which is still burning, prompted level three evacuations, according to KVAL.

This story was originally published September 2, 2020 at 2:24 PM with the headline "Sweet Creek Fires were purposefully set. Accused arsonist now charged, Oregon cops say."