Suspect arrested in fire near Mapleton

A suspect has been arrested in connection with the Sweet Creek fire near Mapleton.

News at 4:30" things are changing by the minute in mapleton where more than 400 firefighters are working tirelessly to gain control of the sweet creek fire and a man has been arrested accused of starting the fire... 44 year old elia pendergrass of mapletone was arrested and charged with arson in the first degree.

That arrest came just after 3 o'clock.

The blaze has grown to more than 500 acres and is burning south of town, and east of the river.

There's a level 3 evacuation for hadsall creek road -- that means "go."

Sweet creek road is under level 2... that means "be set."

And there's also a level one evacuation for bernhardt creek and duncan island roads -- which means be ready.

Kezi 9 news reporter emma withrow is live in mapleton with reaction from an evacuee concerned about the safety of her home.

Set the scene.

Ad lib ad lib ad lib chynna i spoke with a girl who evacuated her home yesterday and is now having to spend her 18th birthday at a hotel in florence.

She told me she's hoping and praying for good news about her home and others nearby.

Briena jenscen says her home already suffered heavy smoke damage.

She said she went by today to grab a more of her belongings and was shocked when she saw the extent of damage from the smoke and fire retardant dumped from above.

Briena jenscen:?my mom called while we were in eugene and she was like were getting evacuated and theye telling us we gotta go and then she looked up and saw the fire was about to burn down to our hous?

20:26:21:14 fire officials said so far they haven't called in other local fire departments to help protect home and other structures.

That's because all areas affected are lined by hand crews.

Fire officials says the sweet creek fire is still 0% contained.

I'll have more on the latest conditions out here in mapleton in just a few minutes.

Reporting live in mapleton emma withrow kezi now let's