SALT LAKE CITY — A person suspected of setting several small fires in Big Cottonwood Canyon on Tuesday is in police custody. Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera who said a 911 emergency call was received at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon reporting somebody lighting fires in the Mount Olympus Wilderness Area.
A Utah National Guard helicopter happened to be in the air over the area, heard the emergency call and spotted the suspect. An additional Department of Public Safety helicopter was dispatched to the area to in to maintain aerial observation.
Department of Public Safety helicopter then hoisted deputies and law enforcement into the area where the suspect was located and drones were deployed for continuous aerial monitoring. The terrain where the officials were hoisted was quite challenging and it took officials on the ground several hours to reach to the suspect who is described only as an adult male.
The suspect has been interviewed and it has been confirmed he set several small fires which thankfully smoldered out and did not spread into a larger wildfire. At this time no motives have been released to the public.
