Man Accused of Arson Days after Beachie Creek Burned through Canyon

A Lyons man was arrested Friday for allegedly attempting to set fire to his neighbor’s home days after the Beachie Creek wildfire ravaged the communities of Detroit, Gates, Idanha, Mill City and Lyons.

William Dale Hopson.

William Dale Hopson, 48, was arrested by Oregon State Police after an investigation found he returned to his residence in the 33000 block of North Fork Road on Sept. 9 — two days after the Beachie Creek Fire first burned through the Santiam Canyon — and intentionally set fire to his neighbor’s home.

Neither Hopson’s house nor his neighbor’s had been damaged by the wildfire, police said in a news release.

Hopson is to be arraigned on charges including burglary, criminal trespass, arson, criminal mischief and reckless endangerment in Marion County Court Monday.

Arson investigators with the Oregon State Police, Marion County Sheriff’s Office and Stayton Fire Department had been investigating the matter since Sept. 14.

Police did not say what might have motivated Hopson.

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