Overview

• San Juan County authorities identified Scott Crane Carrier, 66, of Salt Lake City, as the person charged in connection with the July wildfire near Old La Sal.
• He faces counts of reckless burning, abandoning a fire, causing a catastrophe, and violating a fire restriction order, all filed as misdemeanors.
• An indictment and state fire investigators cite on-site evidence including fresh burn piles, a burned paper towel, a lighter, lighter fluid, a gas can, silica sand around burn areas, and two small ignition points.
• The Deer Creek Fire forced about 300 evacuations, damaged or destroyed at least 13 structures, and produced an EF-2 firenado with winds over 110 mph, according to the National Weather Service.
• Incident costs are estimated at $24,021,755, and officials say additional details are being withheld to protect the integrity of the legal process.