An Ammon man has been sentenced to probation for starting a wildfire near Idaho Falls.
The Post Register reports that 20-year-old Kristian Lopez on Friday was sentenced to a suspended sentence of 180 days in jail. Lopez was also ordered to pay $1,000 in fines and to serve community service.
Lopez in September pleaded guilty to misdemeanor malicious injury to property by setting fire to the forest, prairie lands or by an unextinguished campfire.
Lopez was shooting off bottle rockets when he sparked the so-called "Henry's Creek Fire" on Aug. 21. He told investigators that he and his friends tried to extinguish the blaze but were unsuccessful. He called 911 to report the fire before leaving the scene.
The wildfire consumed an estimated 81 square miles.
