Rumors that members of the far-left Antifa network are behind the spate of wildfires in Oregon are not substantiated, law enforcement officials warned this week.
While a number of people have been arrested for arson in recent days, none appear to have explicit ties to the network.
Douglas County Sheriff’s Office officials wrote on Facebook that 911 dispatchers were “being overrun with requests for information and inquiries on an UNTRUE rumor that 6 Antifa members have been arrested for setting fires” in the county.
The rumor isn’t true, officials said, urging people to stop spreading it.
The Molalla Police Department, while asking people to report any suspicious activity because of rumors about people looting while fires raged, later edited its post, telling people: “This is about possible looters, not antifa or setting of fires. There has been NO antifa in town.”
And the Medford Police Department posted a screenshot of a story that claimed police arrested a man for arson.
“This is a made up graphic and story. We did not arrest this person for arson, nor anyone affiliated with Antifa or ‘Proud Boys’ as we’ve heard throughout the day. Also, no confirmed gatherings of Antifa which has also been reported,” the department stated on social media.
Antifa members have repeatedly set fires in Portland this summer.
Some individuals have been arrested this month for arson or with incendiary devices in Oregon, California, Washington state.
Elias Newton Pendergrass, 44, was arrested last week for allegedly setting a fire that burned hundreds of acres near Eugene, Oregon, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office said.
Detectives took a 27-year-old man into custody in Madera County, California on Thursday because he possessed illegal firearms, drugs, and bomb-making materials.
Christine Comello, 36, was arrested in Spokane, Washington on Monday on suspicion of setting fires.
“I’m out here on 167 right now it looks like a fire literally just started,” Acord said in the video.
“Ultimately it was determined is that they had probable cause to believe that gentleman had started that fire,” Puyallup Police Capt. Jason Visnaw told King 5.
Acord was arrested during unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014 for possession of a concealed weapon and other charges. According to his Facebook page, he is a Black Lives Matter supporter.
Humans are believed to be behind several fires that burned through over 2,000 acres in Lincoln County as well as flames that destroyed some 600 houses in Almeda County.
“We are conducting a criminal investigation in conjunction with the sheriff’s office and state police, and assisted by detectives from around the county,” Ashland Police Chief Tighe O'Meara told The Epoch Times via email.
“I cannot release any information on the investigation, but there is zero evidence it was set by anyone with any political motives, that is pure fabrication,” he added.
