Possible river fire settlement reached

An order of deferred prosecution regarding the 2016 fire that burned pasture and crop land on both sides of the Snake River was filed last Thursday in Garfield County. Under terms of the order, Garfield County Prosecutor Matt Newburg agreed to drop charges against the three WSU students who are charged with starting a fire that eventually covered an estimated 11,000 acres on both sides of the Snake River.

The agreement calls for the defendants to meet certain conditions for the dismissal.

Defendants Blake Rogers, Isaiah Weber and Jonathon Whitley were charged with misdemeanor reckless burning in Garfield County after they came forward and admitted to starting a campfire the night of Aug. 1, 2016, after swimming across the river from the Whitman County side.

Strong winds re-ignited the campfire the next day and actually blew embers across the river to the Whitman County side and burned range and crop land in the Wawawai Canyon area.

A state mobilization was called in to assist local firefighters on the long fire battle that followed.

Newburg said the intent of the agreement is to conclude the case, which started with a scheduled first appearance in Garfield District Court last April 13.

Newburg Feb. 1 said the big condition the defendants will have to meet will be paying off restitution for the damage caused by the fire. He said estimated damage at this time ranges from $200,000 to $600,000. The agreement calls for that sum to be paid off within 18 months. Newburg said it’s his understanding that the defendants have the resources to pay it off.

“We’re not setting them up for failure,” he commented.

He added that the agreement also includes a provision that the charges can be dropped earlier if the sums are paid off before the 18-month deadline.

A total of 28 farmers, ranchers and government agencies have been listed as having sustained losses.

The prosecutor noted as part of the pending action the defendants have been working with some of the victims to restore fences and performing other work to mitigate the damage.