Car Thief Arrested in Connection With 4 BIG Oregon Wildfires!!
A Salt Lake City man is in custody for not only being in possession of a stolen vehicle, but also accused of arson, for setting at a least four brush fires in Oregon. One of them grew into the well-known McKay Fire near LaPine. It torched nearly 1,300 acres.
The case began with an investigation August 29th into four different fires that broke out in Oregon along Highway 97 between the Lava River Cave area and what officials said was milepost 180. Three of them were contained after burning only a few up to several dozen acres, but the McKay Fire was big, and received a lot of media coverage.
After a lot of work including talking with witnesses, drivers, truckers and others, officials were able to identify a suspect. 37-year-old Christopher Glenn Wilson was believed to be responsible. Oregon State Police and other officials also were able to determine Wilson was running around in a stolen car.
He was arrested September 3rd as he entered Oregon from Utah, driving the stolen car pictured. He was busted on I-84 near Ontario. He's now in the Malheur County jail on multiple counts of arson, and the vehicle theft.
Officials believe he could be responsible for other fires, anyone with any possible information is asked to call the Oregon State Patrol at (503)-375-5555. Officials thanked the many people who were able to contribute bits and pieces of information that help form the case and identify Wilson as the suspect. A giant puzzle of evidence.