OKANOGAN — The Okanogan County sheriff’s office says two Twisp men were arrested for investigation of arson for setting unauthorized back burns at a wildfire.
The sheriff’s office says 63-year-old Larry D. Smith was booked into jail Tuesday for setting a back burn on Forest Service land and private property. He also was arrested for setting a back burn in July after firefighters told him it was not safe.
The sheriff’s office says 60-year-old Keith V. Strickland of Twisp was with Smith when he set his latest back burn. Firefighters had asked Strickland not to start any fires because they had all they could handle. He also is jailed for investigation of arson.
Setting a back burn ahead of a fire is a technique to stop wildfires from spreading.
