Two men from Corvallis and Lebanon have been arrested on a variety of charges on accusations they set off fireworks from their car Sunday as they raced west on Oregon Highway 34 from Alsea to Tidewater.
One of the fireworks set a fire in steep terrain eight miles west of Alsea about 5:30 p.m. Sunday that was contained to less than an acre. Oregon Department of Forestry crews, aided by local fire departments, stopped the fire from spreading but remained at the site until Monday afternoon, the ODF said.
The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Monday that Deputy Maleri Cates was helping with traffic control at the fire where she was told that two men in a light blue sedan were seen launching a “mortar-style” firework in the area just before the fire started.
A bit later the sheriff’s office received a call from a Tidewater resident reporting that someone in a blue car driving west on Highway 34 was throwing lighted fireworks at passing motorists. Deputy Zach Akin stopped the vehicle, which the sheriff’s office said was driving 90 miles per hour, and spotted fireworks in the car.
Cates, who the sheriff’s office said specializes in fire and arson investigations, interviewed both men who then admitted shooting off fireworks near the fire.
Benton County Sheriff’s deputies took the suspects into custody in Waldport and then to the Benton County Jail where they were booked and released.
Tyler R. Weeks, 21, of Corvallis, and Tristan P. Forrest, 20, of Lebanon, are charged with second-degree arson, arson involving fireworks, reckless burning, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct.
The Lincoln County Sheriff’s office said it responded to 102 calls on Friday, 127 calls on Saturday and 102 calls on Sunday, July 4, making 11 arrests over those three days.
Complete morons!