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48 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, February 26, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend February 7, 2004 Scott Wayne Rogers Former firefighter sentenced for wildlands arson By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune A former seasonal firefighter will spend 15 more days in jail for starting several forest fires near Butte Falls. Scott Wayne Rogers, 41, formerly of Eagle Point, pleaded guilty Friday in Jackson County Circuit Court to a charge of first-degree arson. The charge was not treated as a Measure 11 offense, which would require a minimum prison sentence of seven years and six months, because no one was in imminent danger of being harmed by the fires that Rogers set, said Tim Barnack, deputy district attorney for Jackson County. "These are wildland fires out in the middle of nowhere," Barnack said. Employed by the Oregon Department of Forestry for 20 fire seasons, Rogers was indicted on six counts of first-degree arson in May 2002. Prosecutors agreed to dismiss the five other counts in exchange for Rogers’ plea. Once stationed at the ODF guard station on Butte Falls Highway, Rogers no longer works for the agency and now lives in La Pine. Rogers used a cigarette lighter to set slow burning fires on trees in areas that he patrolled, Barnack said. When the blazes were spotted several hours later, Rogers responded and put out the flames, Barnack added. Investigators said they believed Rogers set at least eight fires — most were small and none bigger than 10 acres — near Butte Falls during the 2000, 2001 and 2002 fire seasons. Advertisement Rogers’ fellow crew members became suspicious of him because fires were breaking out in areas where Rogers had stopped their truck earlier in the day, gotten out and relieved himself, Barnack said. Later, Rogers always was able to find the exact location of every fire to which he was dispatched although the blazes were in very remote, rugged terrain, Barnack added. "He was always in the wings waiting to be a hero," Barnack said of Rogers’ motive. Oregon Department of Forestry officials put a satellite tracking device on Rogers’ vehicle, allowing them to pinpoint the origin of one particular fire on U.S. Forest Service land in October 2001. Rogers’ truck had stopped at the location earlier that day, forestry officials determined. A similar case now before the Oregon Supreme Court caused Rogers’ trial to be postponed several times, Barnack said. Investigators in the previous case used a satellite device to track the movements of another firefighter convicted several years ago of starting blazes near Roseburg. Her attorneys filed an appeal, alleging invasion of privacy. The Oregon Court of Appeals upheld the original verdict. Rogers’ attorneys had been awaiting the high court’s ruling before entering Friday’s plea. Rogers cannot appeal his conviction. Although Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Bill Purdy ordered Rogers to serve 30 days in jail, the arsonist will only serve 15 with credit for time served. Arrested on May 15, 2002, Rogers was released from the Jackson County Jail on May 30 after posting $1,500 bail. Rogers also has the option of serving the time under electronic monitoring in Deschutes County. In addition to paying $2,400 in restitution to ODF and the Forest Service, Rogers can no longer work for any agencies that participate in fire suppression. Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times