Sweet Creek fire downsized to 382 acres

Fire crews will work through Tuesday night laying more hoses to hot spots and improving fire lines.

Kezi 9 news at 11" creek milepost 2 fire from over 500 acres to 382.

Thank you for joining us, i'm chynna greene.

Kezi nine news reporter connor mccarthy was in mapleton all evening and shows us how the community is reacting to one of their neighbors arrested for allegedly starting this fire.

Connor: "the fire here in mapleton is still very active even as temperatures and winds drop.

But the arrest of mapleton man for allegedly starting the fire, shocked this small town."

The fire may be smaller than first estimated... but its far from being contained.

"it's pretty burned up, its sad."

Once green trees... now charred brown line the sisulaw river where the sweet creek milepost two fire haas burned.

Helicopters continue to drop water on hot spots.

Steep terrain and dense vegetiation has made it hard to fight the fire.

"hopefully they get it out, we don't want to see our whole place go up in flames."

Tuesday, the lane county sheriff's office arrested mapleton man... 44-year-old elias pender grass for allegedly starting the fire.

He is being charged with first degree arson.

His arrest not sitting well for this small town.

"what the hell dude, that what i thought.

I was like oh no.

What are you suppose to say.

I don know what else he needs but wee here we have his back no matter what if he in trouble or not."

Tuesday night the oregon departemnt of forestry says crews wil work through the night laying more hoses and improving fire lines.

Connor: " we will have more updates on containment and the size of the fire tomorrow morning on kezi nine news this morning.

Reporting in mapleton connor mccarthy kezi nine news."