Authorities say a man tried to cremate a dog, starting a forest fire in Colorado

A man was arrested after he allegedly tried to cremate his dog and then started a wildfire called the Bucktail Fire in Nucla, Colorado, in early August, according to the Associated Press. The Denver Post And The Montrose Daily Press.

Brent Scott Garber, 63, was arrested Sept. 5, according to the Montrose County Sheriff's Office. He was charged with arson and trespassing. He was identified as a suspect after a sheriff's office commander saw him leaving on an all-terrain vehicle just minutes after the fire broke out. The Denver Post reported, citing an affidavit.

The commander then met with state fire investigators and discovered an excavated cave at the site where the fire had started. A partially burned dog's body and a large stone with the inscription “Oct. 2017, July 2024, Rocket Dog, Rest in Peace Buddy” made of bone, glued to the surface, the outlet says.

According to the affidavit, Rocket, who was later confirmed to be Garber's dog, was euthanized by a judge after he got into a fight with another dog.

The affidavit said Garber put his dog in a pit of wood and lit it on fire before throwing a spray can into the flames, which erupted and hit a nearby tree.

Garber lived in a mobile home near the original source of the fire. Witnesses later told investigators that Garber told them he started the fire accidentally.

According to information, Garber appeared at the Montrose County Courthouse on Wednesday, September 25th USA today. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, October 23rd.

The Bucktail Fire, one of Colorado's largest fires this year, caused approximately $300,000 in damage to public and private property. More than 7,200 hectares burned. No evacuations were ordered and no injuries were reported USA today.

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The Montrose County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for further information on Friday.