“Striking testimony” in Oregon ranchers’ trial for rangeland arson

Trial of the accused Hammond family arsonists is now underway in Pendleton, Oregon–

We have been following this amazing story since it broke two years ago. On the first day of the Pendelton, Oregon trial, young Dusty Hammond told the court how his uncle Steve Hammond had passed out boxes of Diamond (wooden) matches during his first deer hunt and told them to “light the whole countryside on fire.”  This was on U.S. Bureau of Land Management public land back in 2001.

The resulting fire almost incinerated Dusty Hammond who was then only 13. He narrowly escaped. Dusty is a witness against his uncle Steve Hammond and his father, Dwight L. Hammond Jr..

The government said they spent $600,000 fighting fires the Hammonds set.  Defense argued that most of the fires were set by lightning.

Here are the details. Hammond Witness Describes Setting Fire In 2001.  By Joseph Ditzler. OPB News.
Associated Press story. Trial opens for Oregon ranchers accused of setting fires on federal grazing land.

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