Man suspected of sparking wildfires in Oregon detained by citizens, tied to tree – New York Daily News

A man accused of sparking several wildfires amid climbing temperatures in Oregon was apprehended by locals, who then tied him to a tree, according to authorities.

Witnesses spotted the suspected arsonist, 30-year-old Trennon Smith, on Monday, strolling along a gravel road and igniting several blazes in the forest about 25 miles northwest of Grants Pass. They recognized him from a statement released earlier in the day by authorities providing a physical description of the alleged firebug.

Firefighters were able to quickly contain and extinguish the blazes, which had burned less than an acre, according to the Curry County Sheriff’s Office.

“It was reported that the suspect became very combative with the three residents and had to be tied to a tree to subdue him,” Curry County Sheriff John Ward said in a statement. “An ambulance crew was asked to respond due to some injuries that the suspect apparently received from falling down.”

Smith was treated for his injuries and then jailed on charges of arson and reckless burning. Bond was set at $100,000.

“The quick actions on getting the fires out most certainly averted a catastrophe and saved lives,” Ward said. “If the fires had not been contained and if they got out of control, they could have blocked all the residents and visitors from having an escape route.”

With News Wire Services