Oregon Arsonist Arrested After Local Residents Captured and Tied Him To A Tree

An Oregon man was captured and tied to a tree by residents after causing multiple wildfires.

Since Monday, officials had been searching for a man who’s allegedly responsible for igniting two fires in Curry County. The Bureau of Land Management notified law enforcement about a white male who was seen starting fires.

The Curry County Sheriff’s office then contacted multiple agencies to help extinguish the fires and locate the man.

Once the fires were contained, three residents spotted a man who fit the suspect’s description. According to Sheriff John Ward, the man became combative with the residents. However, the locals were able to restrain him by tying him to a tree until the police arrived.

The suspect was later identified as 30-year-old Trennon Smith. Smith was arrested at the scene and transferred to a hospital for his injuries allegedly sustained from a fall.

Shortly after, Smith was booked into the Curry County jail. The man was hit with two charges of arson in the first degree and one count of reckless burning. Smith’s bond is set at $100,000.

“The cooperation and partnership between all agencies when something like this occurs is remarkable,” Sheriff Ward said. “The quick actions on getting the fires out most certainly averted a catastrophe and saved lives. The total area burnt is less than one acre. If the fires had not been contained and if they got out of control, they could have blocked all the residents and visitors from having an escape route.”