Campbell County man arrested after starting 51-acre fire

GILLETTE (WNE) — A Campbell County man was arrested Tuesday after sparking a 51-acre fire that spread across four properties south of Gillette, causing damage and smoke that led to a crash on Highway 59.

The fire was reported after 4 p.m. Tuesday off of Gap Road near Highway 59 where a 62-year-old man used a propane bottle and torch to kill dead weeds in a garden area of his property, said Undersheriff Quentin Reynolds.

The fire spread to neighboring properties and covered 51 acres by the time firefighters put the flames under control, according to a Campbell County Fire Department press release.

No one was hurt by the fire, but it did damage outbuildings, power poles and fencing, causing more than $1,000 in damage, causing Sheriff’s deputies to arrest the 62-year-old man for felony destruction of property.

Winds of about 8 mph with gusts reaching the 14-17 mph range are believed to have contributed to the quick spread of the fire, Reynolds said, causing the fire department to caution residents to avoid fire-burning activities.

Smoke from the fire is believed to have caused a crash on Highway 59 at about 4:56 p.m. when a 27-year-old man driving a Volkswagen SUV ran into the back of a Chevy Silverado pickup truck, driven by a 33-year-old man. The 27-year-old driver told deputies he was unable to see the truck in front of him due to the smoke, Reynolds said.

As of this week, no fire ban is in place in Campbell County, but the fire department warned residents to refrain from activities that could ignite a fire.

Neither driver was hurt or ticketed in that crash.

This story was published on March 20, 2024.