Trees found doused in gas, attempted arson suspected near Colorado national forest in Chaffee County

Several trees were found doused in an accelerant on Sunday, June 14 in Chaffee County near Clear Creek Reservoir.

According to the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office, the agency was notified of the attempted arson west of Clear Creek Reservoir along County Road 390. The attempt was made on unposted private property heavily bordered by National Forest.

In a social media post from the sheriff’s office, the agency said National Forest Service firefighters Chaffee County While performing routine patrol National Forest Service firefighters discovered multiple trees that had been burned in this area while performing a routine patrol.

The fire was no longer active, the sheriff’s office said, but the firefighters notified the Chaffee County Fire Department regardless, because the fire was on private property. The Chaffee County Fire Department reached out to the sheriff’s office detective’s bureau to handle the investigation.

Based on the initial investigation it appeared that an unknown person(s) attempted to purposely start a forest fire, detectives with the sheriff’s office said.

“An accelerant (most likely gasoline) was used on and near two separate trees and that accelerant was possibly utilized to cause a burn to a third tree where a clear plastic beverage container was suspended from the limb of that third tree,” the social media post said. “Inside the beverage container was a large amount of accelerant. Fortunately, the fire had burned itself out before reaching the bottle of accelerant.”

Stage I fire restrictions went into effect on June 6 for all of unincorporated Chaffee County, including in the municipalities of Poncha Springs, Buena Vista and Salida.

Stage I Restrictions

When a Stage I Restriction has been imposed, no open fire may be built, maintained, or attended within Chaffee County. The following are exempt from Stage I Restrictions:

• Campfires, warming fires, and charcoal fires within a permanent constructed fire grate in a developed public campground or picnic ground, or a permanent constructed fire grate or fire ring in a commercial campground or on private property.
• Liquefied Petroleum (LP) gas or liquid-fueled stoves and appliances that allow the operator to turn the flame on and off.
• Fireplaces within enclosed buildings that are equipped with adequate spark-arresting screens on the flue.
• Charcoal grill fires at private residences.

“We are asking the community and our visitors to please be vigilant while enjoying our back country,” Chaffee County Sheriff Andy Rohrich said. “If you see suspicious activity/ person(s) please do your best to document license plates, pictures, etc. without placing yourself in danger and notify law enforcement. This is behavior we obviously have zero tolerance for and we will use all resources available to us to protect life and property.”

If you have any information concerning this investigation please call the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center, 719-539-2596, and ask to speak to a detective.