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Teen who started Oregon wildfire ordered to pay $36.6 million in restitution

The judge said the court finds the teen is unable to pay the judgment in full, and authorized the Hood River Juvenile Department to establish a payment schedule.

HOOD RIVER, Ore. — A judge ordered a Vancouver, Washington teenager to pay $36.6 million in restitution after the teen pleaded guilty earlier this year to starting last September's massive Eagle Creek wildfire in the Columbia Gorge.

The judge had delayed the decision during a hearing in Hood River on Thursday, May 17, after the teenager's defense attorney claimed that the statute requiring full restitution is unconstitutional if imposed on a juvenile.

The judge decided that the restitution requested in the case was in line with the seriousness of the offenses committed by the teen. He said, in a written ruling, that the restitution scheme meets the juvenile delinquency goals of "personal responsibility, accountability and reformation with in the context of public safety."

Related: Video shows damage Eagle Creek Fire inflicted upon scenic Columbia River Gorge

The judge said the court finds that the teen is unable to pay the judgment in full, and authorized the Hood River Juvenile Department to establish a payment schedule. The judge said factors such as the teen's financial resources and other obligations will be taken into consideration when determining an appropriate payment plan.

As part of his ruling, the judge also said "the court can grant a full or partial satisfaction of the restitution judgment after 10 years" if the teen has successfully completed probation, doesn't commit additional offenses and complies with the payment plan.

Restitution was awarded to the following individuals and groups:

  • $5,000 to Iris Schenk
  • $8,111 to Allstate Insurance
  • $31,551 to Oregon State Parks
  • $100,000 to Heuker Properties
  • $168,000 to Trail Club of Oregon
  • $1,048,878 to Union Pacific Railroad
  • $1,643,035 to Oregon State Fire Marshall
  • $12,500,000 to ODOT
  • $21,113,755 to US Forest Service

Judge's ruling on Eagle Creek fire restitution by KGW News on Scribd

The wildfire burned more than 48,000 acres in the scenic Columbia River Gorge and Mount Hood National Forest. A representative with the U.S. Forest Service said 121 miles of national forest trails were impacted. A group of hikers had to be rescued after the fire started and several structures burned.

According to a representative with the Oregon Department of Transportation, crews removed more than 12,000 trees to make the area safe. The fire, which happened during peak tourism season, also had a negative impact on many businesses in the area.

File: 'Do you realize you just started a forest fire?'

The boy was 15 years old when he started the fire on Sept. 2, 2017 while igniting fireworks, according to Oregon State Police. He pleaded guilty in court on February 16 and was sentenced to five years probation and 1,920 hours of community service with the U.S. Forest Service.

"I sincerely apologize to everyone who had to deal with this fire, I cannot imagine how scary it must have been for you," he wrote in a letter in February. "I know I have to earn your forgiveness and I will work hard to do so and one day, I hope I will."

The wildfire affected Hood River and Multnomah counties, but Oregon's juvenile code demands that legal proceedings take place in the county where the illegal act originally occurred.

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