Man pleads guilty to starting Henry’s Creek fire

Update 3:20 pm: An Ammon man has pleaded guilty to causing the Henry’s Creek Fire. Kristian John Lopez pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of malicious injury to property this afternoon in Bonneville County during his arraignment hearing. The state prosecutor requested sentencing be set at a later date so they can review restitution issues.

Lopez is being held at the Bonneville County on $10,000 bond. He will appear in court for sentencing on Oct. 28.

Original Story: The Bonneville County Sheriff’s office has cited 19-year-old Kristian John Lopez in connection to causing the Henry’s Creek fire.

According to Sgt. Bryan Lovell with the Sheriff’s office, Lopez was arrested Thursday after tips from the public via Crimestoppers. When interviewed Lopez admitted to shooting off bottle rockets in the area causing a fire. Lopez told deputies that he tried to put out the fire and failed. He then called 911 to report the fire and left the area.

Lopez was already in Bonneville County Jail on unrelated charges. Lopez is scheduled for arraignment Friday at 1 pm on charges of misdemeanor malicious injury to property by setting fire to forest, prairie land or unextinguished campfire.

The Henry’s Creek fire burned more than 50,000 acres and took crews almost two weeks to contain.