Considering the conditions, it wasn’t terribly surprising when a wildfire was called in on Highway 40 in Moffat County on Sunday at 10pm and crews responded immediately. It didn’t take long to conclude that fireworks were the cause. A second wildfire was reported soon after in the area just west of Maybell and again crews found evidence of fireworks as the cause. Finally, just 2 ½ hours after the first report, a third wildfire was reported in the area and this time the fire posed an immediate threat to a nearby ranch and multiple structures. Crews responded and sure enough, evidence of fireworks were found as the cause. At some point during the chaos a witness reported seeing a man lighting fireworks in the area before fleeing the scene at a high rate of speed. The vehicle described was located soon after and the driver, identified as 22-year-old Kobe John Dimick, was arrested for DUI and multiple counts of Arson related to the wildfires. “The rapid response and thorough investigative work of our deputies played a crucial role in identifying and arresting the suspect responsible for these dangerous and reckless acts,” shares Moffat County Sheriff Chip McIntyre. “Intentionally or negligently setting fires with fireworks during high fire danger not only endangers lives and property, but also puts our firefighters and first responders at unacceptable risk. We will not tolerate this kind of disregard for public safety in Moffat County.” Moffat County Sheriff’s Office thanked the Maybell Volunteer Fire Department, Moffat County Wildland Fire, and BLM Fire crews for their swift and effective response, which prevented further damage and protected nearby homes and property.
