According to court documents, Justin Hurd, 51, was arrested Saturday on a charge of causing a catastrophe — recklessly caused.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, “callers described seeing a black Dodge pickup truck driving away from the area with no lights on and at a high rate of speed. Prior to this information being shared, the truck had been stopped by a patrol officer and the driver was identified as a juvenile male (JB).

“JB disclosed to the officer that he had been hiking with another male in the area and that the other male had offered him narcotics and had intentionally lit a small fire which quickly burned out of control. When questioned by officers about the truck, JB stated that it belonged to the male who had set the fire. The truck being driven by JB was found to belong to Justin Hurd. JB was subsequently detained and taken to the OPD station to be interviewed.”

Around this same time, firefighters came into contact with Hurd.

“During officers’ response to assist the fire department in the area, firefighters requested officer assistance with a male party who was being confrontational with fire crews,” the affidavit continues. “When officers arrived, the male was identified as Justin Hurd, and was subsequently detained and transported to the OPD station to be interviewed.”

The affidavit continues by noting that JB said “he had met Justin around 0000hrs when Justin approached him on the street near the intersection of 12th St. and Jefferson Ave. while he was walking toward his father’s house. JB stated that Justin appeared to be intoxicated, but offered to buy food and gas for his truck and to allow him to drive his truck for the purpose of going hiking on the trails near where the fire occurred.

“JB further stated that approximately 20 to 30 minutes after they had begun hiking in the area of the Ogden Nature Trail, Justin began making statements about offering to purchase narcotics for them to share. JB stated that Justin specifically talked about DMT (Dimethyltryptamine), a Schedule I narcotic.”

It’s at this point that JB said, according to the affidavit, that Hurd attempted to build a campfire by setting dry wood alight. The fire quickly grew out of control and spread despite their combined attempts to contain it.

“JB further stated that due to the uncomfortable circumstances he left the area in Justin’s truck, intending to return it to his residence and was shortly thereafter stopped by officers,” the affidavit said. “JB completed and signed a written 1102 statement detailing his involvement and observations in this incident.

“Justin was then interviewed under Miranda. Justin’s account of events closely matched that of JB. Justin’s account of events diverged specifically on the act of starting the fire. Justin repeatedly denied having started the fire and claimed that it had been likely been set by other persons he observed running from the area. Justin further stated that he did not know who set the fire and that he made attempts to control or contain the fire by kicking at it, trying to stomp it out, and clearing brush away from the area, but that he was unable to stop the fire’s spread. When asked why he not made any calls to 911 to report the fire, Justin was unable to provide a reason.”

The Standard-Examiner reached out to the Ogden City Police Department for further comment but received no reply as of press time.

On Saturday evening, a post on the U.S. Forest Service’s Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest page declared that the Mountain Road Fire in Ogden was 100% contained.

“During today’s 100F degree heat and exposed to full sun, about 60 firefighters worked on the blackened ground to contain the fire, using direct extinguishment tactics Logan IHC, a type one hand crew, and an initial attack squad from Weber Basin worked the edges of the fire supported with water by engine crews and a type 1 helicopter,” the post said. “Despite the heat crews successfully contained the fire during the day and at 8:00 it was declared 100% contained.”

Crews continued to work throughout the day on Sunday mopping up hot spots.

According to a press release from the Ogden City Fire Department received just after 10 a.m. Saturday, crews were summoned to a reported vegetation fire in the area of 1100 North Mountain Road around 12:49 a.m. Saturday.

“Callers reported large flames and rapid fire spread that threatened several homes in the area,” the release said. “Fire crews arrived and immediately initiated an aggressive attack, with the primary objective of protecting nearby structures. As additional resources arrived, firefighters transitioned to a coordinated direct attack on the fire, successfully stopping its progression to the north and south.”

The release adds that several agencies participated and were still on scene to monitor the situation late Saturday morning.

“The Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands (FFSL) was notified and assisted in requesting additional resources from Davis County, an FFSL Strike Team, and the U.S. Forest Service,” the release said. “The fire was ultimately brought under control after burning approximately 18.1 acres.”

Ogden City Deputy Fire Chief Matthew Hess told the Standard-Examiner on Monday that several structures along Rancho Boulevard and Bench View Driver were threatened and that, while evacuations were not ultimately needed, residents were made aware of the possibility at the time.

According to the release, more than 50 firefighters were involved in tackling the blaze.

“The Ogden Fire Department extends its sincere appreciation to all assisting agencies for their rapid response and coordinated efforts,” the release said. “More than 50 firefighters worked together to bring the fire under control, protecting several homes that were directly threatened by the fast-moving fire.”

Weber County Emergency Management posted on its Facebook page that the trail system from 1900 N in North Ogden south to 425 N in Ogden is closed for the time being due to fire activity. The Ogden City Fire Department posted later in the day on its Facebook page that the full trail system would reopen Tuesday morning.

“Staying out of the area helps protect firefighters and allows crews to complete their work safely,” the post said. “Please make alternate recreation plans until the closure is lifted.”

The fire department release also warns people to take precautions in general with how volatile the drought situation is across Northern Utah.

“This incident also serves as an important reminder that vegetation throughout Northern Utah is in a critically dry condition,” the release said. “With several days of triple-digit temperatures forecast and little to no precipitation expected, the potential for rapid fire growth remains extremely high. The Ogden Fire Department urges all residents and visitors to exercise extreme caution with any activity that could ignite a wildfire.”