Police say a former forestry official who was charged with drug trafficking earlier this year has now been charged with starting a fire in Wayne County.
Police say that Steven Vitatoe was fired by the state shortly after police say he was caught with drugs, including meth, in his state-issued vehicle back in April.
Vitatoe was charged with possession and drug trafficking.
He was released on the condition he would wear a GPS monitoring device.
On November 2, firefighters were called out to Brammer Hill Ridge Road to put out another wildfire that appeared to have been intentionally set. Monticello Fire Chief Steve Ferrell told LEX 18 they suspected arson because the fire was set on the side of the road.
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Police say by watching trail cam footage and using the GPS monitoring device to confirm his location, they knew they were looking for Vitatoe.
He was arrested Thursday afternoon and booked in the Wayne County Detention Center.
He was charged with willfully setting a fire, mischief, trespassing, and seven counts of wanton endangerment.
“The danger that’s out there, these guys out there, it’s easy for them to get hurt out there. It really is and they just don’t need to be out there,” said Chief Ferrell.
Firefighters continue to battle fires across eastern and southern Kentucky.
An abandoned trailer became the first building lost to a brush fire in Wayne County on Thursday.
