Rio Blanco County deputies, with support from the Meeker Police Department and the U.S. Forest Service, arrested 5 individuals in relation to the Yellow Jacket Fire that burned this summer in Colorado.
According to the Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office, deputies first responded to a wildfire in the Yellow Jacket area Notheast of Meeker on August 15th, 2025. Deputies were able to preserve evidence despite the fire continuing to burn with firefighters and air support actively engaging. Deputies found evidence that the fire was like human-caused and an in-depth, multi-agency investigation was launched alongside personnel from the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office.
Five suspects, including Zachary Williams, Ashley Renae Trujillo, Jason Dwayne Ridgeway, Michael Lee Buhler, and William Argul Ekstrom JR were arrested. Charges include firing woods or prairie (Class 6 felony), Entering a Forest Closure, Possession of Fireworks, removing wood without a permit, and more. All individuals are suspects and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The Yellow Jacket Fire burned 35 acres before it was contained.
