A Roseburg teen was arrested for Reckless Burning Saturday in connection with the Rolling Hills Road Fire that destroyed two homes in the Green District area between Roseburg and Winston.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office announced Saturday that they identified three juveniles in their teens as being in the area immediately prior to the 20-acre fire, which broke out Friday evening.
In a release, the DCSO provided this narrative:
“The teens were determined to have been walking in the area while one of them, a 13 year-old Roseburg teen, was playing with a lighter. The teen had pulled a clump of dead and dry grass from the ground and lit it. It became too hot causing the teen to drop it to the ground, igniting the approximate 20 acre fire that destroyed two homes, multiple outbuildings and four vehicles. The teens attempted to extinguish the fire and stop its spread, but were unable to do so. At least one of the juveniles went to a nearby residence and alerted the homeowner who called 9-1-1.”
The 13-year-old who is believed to have started the fire was arrested. Officials say the teens and their guardians are cooperating with law enforcement.
Detectives are requesting homeowners in the area to review any security camera footage which may assist them in the investigation. Sgt. Brad O’Dell said "detectives are particularly interested in any footage which may show the teens walking to or from the field as well as any footage which may have captured the start of the fire.”
The Sheriff’s office has set up an evidence collection website where homeowners can upload any footage they feel would aid in the investigation.
The Rolling Hills Road Fire started at 4:35 p.m. Friday. Multiple agencies responded to the fast-moving grass fire which quickly burned two homes, multiple outbuildings, and four cars.
Level 2 “Set” and Level 3 “Go!” evacuations were ordered for some residents in the area. Those evacuations were lifted once the fire was contained.
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