4 arrested in fire on Weyerhaeuser land



4 arrested in fire on Weyerhaeuser land

SCAPPOOSE, Oregon (From The Seattle Times) -- Oregon State Police say they arrested four people in connection with a campfire that spread out of control, igniting several logging slash piles on Weyerhaeuser property northwest of Portland.

The four men, ages 19 to 23, have been charged with reckless burning, trespass and littering. Authorities say they tracked the suspects down through a video shared on social media, showing the men at the campfire. In comments they said they thought they had extinguished it.

A burn ban was in effect when the campfire spread out of control Aug. 5 near Scappoose, and the arrests came the next day.

The Oregon Department of Forestry is seeking to have the men reimburse the cost of putting the fire out.

An Oregon State Police spokesman says the agency wants to remind people that having a campfire when prohibited can be criminal.