'Squatter' charged with arson in 18,000-acre blaze near Dufur, at large after failing to show for court

Sep 17

Volunteer firefighters spent weeks putting out flames near Dufur and protecting their homes as $14 million was spent combating the blaze that ran from the Sunnybrook Community and jumped Highway 197 on the Tygh Valley Grade. Thousands of hours of work and immense property damage were incurred. Christopher Mennealy, 51, was indicted with Arson in relation to the blaze. But he failed to show up for court on Monday, Sept. 16 in Wasco County Circuit Court. A warrant for his arrest has been issued.

By Tom Peterson

The Dalles, Ore., Sept. 17, 2024 — The 51-year-old man accused of starting the Larch Creek Fire near Dufur is currently wanted on an arrest warrant after he failed to show up at Wasco County Circuit Court on Monday, Sept. 16.

The Larch Creek Fire is started 5 miles southwest of Dufur, OR and was first reported July 9, just after 2 p.m. The cause was human activity and remained under investigation for several weeks.

On Monday, Sept. 16, Wasco County District Attorney Matthew Ellis announced Christopher Mennealy, 51, was indicted for crimes involving the ignition of the Larch Creek Fire.

On September 4, 2024, the Grand Jury indicted Mennealy for second-degree Arson iand Reckless Burning. The fire began near Friend, OR in Wasco County, where Mennealy was squatting on another’s property. Within 10 days, the fire burned an estimated 18,286 acres and had suppression costs totaling over $14 million.

Mennealy was scheduled to appear for arraignment on the indictment the morning of September 16, 2024. He failed to appear for his court date, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Mennealy is currently at large.

A charging instrument is only an accusation of a crime. Mennealy is innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Mennealy appeared to still be at large this morning, Sept. 17, as he was not listed on the NORCOR jail inmate list.