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SUNNY Temp: 69 °F Wind: WNW at 6 mph Monday, June 10, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Cyberchef E The People Golf Job Network Headbone Zone Wellness Connection Movie Times Newspaper in Education Oregon CarZone Outdoor Journal Personals Prime Times Real Estate Tempo A & E TV Times W3 Magazine CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Destinations Automotive Communities Employment Entertainment Publications Real Estate Recreation Shopping Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Jobs @ Mail Tribune Email Story to a Friend May 31, 2002 Scott Wayne Rogers Firefighter accused of setting wildfires The Butte Falls man allegedly started six small blazes last summer By PAUL FATTIG Mail Tribune A 20-year seasonal firefighter for the Oregon Department of Forestry was arraigned Thursday in Jackson County Circuit Court on six counts of first-degree arson. Scott Wayne Rogers, 39, of the 14000 block of Butte Falls Highway, Eagle Point, is charged with starting six wildfires in northern Jackson County during the 2001 fire season. None of the fires covered more than an acre. His arrest by the Oregon State Police on May 15 was the result of a cooperative effort by that agency, state forestry and the Jackson County district attorney’s office. "Obviously, we have some concerns that a firefighter is starting forest fires," said Tim Barnack, the deputy district attorney handling the case. Rogers, who had lived in the ODF guard station on Butte Falls Highway, worked for state forestry as a seasonal employee for 20 fire seasons, according to Jeff Schwanke, forester in charge of ODF’s Southwest Oregon District. Rogers no longer lives in the guard station nor works for ODF, Schwanke said. The fact he no longer lives there or is employed by ODF is the result of a matter unrelated to the arson charges, Schwanke said. He declined to elaborate. His department turned the full investigation over to the state police once it appeared an ODF employee may be involved, he said. Stressing that the arrest represents an extremely rare situation for the department, Schwanke said he and his staff are now focusing on the upcoming fire season, which is likely to begin early in June. The department’s firefighters, many of whom are hired only for the summer fire season, are responsible for battling blazes on U.S. Bureau of Land Management, state, county and private forest lands. The fires Rogers is believed to have started all occurred from June through September of last year. "They were relatively small fires in that they were suppressed early on," Barnack said. However, citing last year’s severe drought, officials say each of the fires had the potential to threaten lives as well as homes. Each of the charges against Rogers is a felony. The penalties range from a fine and serving 90 days or more in the county jail or 20 years in a state prison and a $300,000 fine, Barnack said. In Thursday’s court hearing, Judge Patricia Crain reduced Rogers’ bail from $100,000 to $15,000. Reach reporter Paul Fattig at 776-4496 or e-mail him at [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy web master feedback A D V E R T I S E R S