Wildfire news, April 28, 2009

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Volunteer firefighter arrested for arson

Michael W. Thompson, 22, of Stout, Ohio has been arrested for starting the largest fire to occur in the Shawnee State Forest in the last 20 years.  He is charged with setting at least two fires on Friday that have burned more than 2,455 acres 5 miles west of West Portsmouth, Ohio.

Firefighters with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Forestry Division had to abandon a prescribed fire in order to fight the arson fires two miles away which were threatening structures. The arson fires burned into the prescribed fire which was originally planned to be 200 acres.

Thompson was charged with a fourth-degree felony count of arson and a fifth-degree felony count of possessing criminal tools.

Investigation continues into air tanker crash

Strong winds and blinding snow are hampering the investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board into the cause of the crash Tanker 42.  The tanker crashed Saturday onto a Utah mountain killing the 3-person crew.

HERE is a link to a video of Tanker 42 making a drop last Wednesday on a fire in the O’Brien Creek drainage near Missoula, Montana.

Kentucky farmer dies in wildland fire

An autopsy will be performed on a farmer from Bald Knob, Kentucky whose burned body was found Monday.  Harold Atha, 59, had gone to repair a fence on Sunday and was reported missing by his family Monday morning when he had not returned.  Atha was found about 100 yards from his tractor in the fire which had burned 10 acres but had not been reported.

It is unclear what started the fire.  A spokesman for the Kentucky State Police said foul play or arson is not suspected.

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