The Rio Blanco Sheriff’s Office arrested five people suspected of causing a fire in the Yellow Jacket area of the White River National Forest, northeast of Meeker, according to a sheriff’s office news release.

Zachary Williams, Ashley Trujillo, Jason Ridgeway, Michael Buhler and William Ekstrom Jr. were arrested Monday and charged with firing woods or prairie — a Class 6 felony — as well as several federal charges including entering a forest closure, possession of fireworks and removing wood without a permit, according to the sheriff’s office.

The fire near the Yellow Jacket area started Aug. 15 while the Lee, Elk and Crosho fires raged in the region.

By the time the fire was contained on Aug. 18, it had scorched about 35 acres.

The news release states that Rio Blanco County sheriff’s deputies “were able to preserve evidence” while firefighting crews worked on containing the fire. After reviewing the evidence, deputies determined the fire was “likely human-caused.”

“An in-depth multi-agency investigation was launched, including personnel from the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and the Rio Blanco Sheriff’s Office,” states the release.

“The investigation was particularly critical as Rio Blanco County was simultaneously managing the considerably larger Lee, Elk and Crosho fires in the region, which paced significant demands on aerial and ground firefighting resources,” the release continues.

Editor’s note: Every person accused of a crime is presumed to be innocent unless and until their guilt is established beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.