Man confesses to starting Sharps Fire with exploding target
UPDATE: The individual responsible for starting the Sharps Fire east of Bellevue Saturday has been identified.
Detectives from the Sheriff’s Office and IDL Investigators began with the person who reported the fire to 911, Ryan M. Jensen, age 35 of Bellevue, Idaho.
Jensen reported he was driving out Muldoon Canyon when he came upon the fire.
He told detectives that he initially attempted to put the fire out, but then drove back into town to report the blaze to authorities.
Jensen repeatedly denied shooting weapons or using any exploding targets.
Through the course of the investigation, detectives met with Jensen multiple times.
As additional witness interviews, evidence and other leads continued came in, the investigation began to focus on Jensen as the primary suspect.
Jensen voluntarily came into the Sheriff’s Office and confessed to starting the fire by using an exploding target on Thursday. He was officially summoned into court by the Blaine County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for the crime of Firing Timber or Prairie Land, Idaho Code 18-7004.
“We ask the public to be patient and respectful of the judicial process,” stated Sheriff Steve Harkins.
The Sharps Fire started east of Bellevue, Idaho on July 29, 2018 and has quickly spread to approximately 54,000 acres. Current estimates are placed at 29% containment.
ORIGINAL:
The individual responsible for starting the Sharps Fire east of Bellevue Saturday has been identified.
Sheriff Steve Harkins said the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office and Idaho Department of Lands investigators determined the fire was started by explosive targets.
“An individual was interviewed by detectives and admitted to starting the fire by shooting an exploding target,” said Harkins.
The identity of the suspect was not released while official charges are pending a review by the Blaine County Prosecutor’s Office.
“We ask that the public be patient and allow us to fully complete the investigation and so this case can successfully go through the judicial process,” said Harkins.
As of Wednesday night, the fire had burned approximately 38,360 acres in Blaine County.
