Three men face federal charges for allegedly setting a 6-acre fire in Isle Royale National Park that forced evacuations and campground closures.
29-year-old Dylan Kenneth Wagner, 28-year-old Jason Arden Allard and 30-year-old Scott Warren Allard are accused of camping illegally in August of 2022 and starting a fire that was not in one of the metal rings or grills provided by the park. The fire spread on the island in Michigan’s Lake Superior, eventually being dubbed the Mount Franklin Fire.
The Michigan men are charged with one count of lighting, tending, or using a fire causing damage to real property and one count of violating conditions established by the Isle Royale superintendent. Both charges carry a maximum penalty of 6 months in prison, a $5,000 fine, 5 years of probation, and mandatory restitution.
“These alleged crimes threatened the safety of park visitors, employees, and the ecosystem that sustains a rich diversity of life,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten.
