Eagle Creek Fire Suspect Is 15-Year-Old Washington Boy: Oregon State Police

CASCADE LOCKS, OR — A 15-year-old boy from Vancouver, Washington, was identified as a suspect in the Eagle Creek Fire, according to Oregon State Police officials.

Just before 4 p.m. Tuesday, OSP officials said the boy and others are believed to have been using fireworks along the Eagle Creek Trail, essentially starting the 10,000-plus-acre forest fire that's caused the closure of Interstate-84 and the evacuation of roughly 400 residences between Troutdale and Hood River.

Earlier Tuesday, OPB published witness testimony from Portland resident Liz Fitzgerald, who said she saw a group of giggling young people tossing fireworks into Eagle Creek Canyon prior to the fire beginning Sept. 2.

The 15-year-old suspect who was interviewed by police at the Eagle Creek trailhead will not be identified at this time, police said.

Officials are asking anyone who heard or saw fireworks in the Eagle Creek Trail/Punch Bowl Falls area between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday to call Oregon State Police at 503-375-3555.

Photo Courtesy: Oregon State Police