Colorado Man Arrested for Starting Wildfire During Dog Cremation

Brent Scott Garber faces arson and trespassing charges after his attempt to cremate his dog led to the Bucktail Fire, burning over 7,200 acres.

Brent Scott Garber, 63, was arrested on September 5, 2024, for allegedly starting the Bucktail Fire in Nucla, Colorado.
The fire began on August 1, 2024, when Garber attempted to cremate his dog Rocket, who had been euthanized by court order.
Garber's cremation attempt went awry when a spray can he threw into the fire exploded, igniting a tree and causing the wildfire.
The Bucktail Fire burned more than 7,200 acres of public and private land, causing approximately $300,000 in damages.
Garber has been charged with two counts of arson and one count of second-degree trespassing, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for October 23, 2024.