ASHLAND, Ore. (AP) - An Oregon man accused of starting a fire in 2010 that destroyed 11 homes and led to the death of a firefighter has died.
Ashland Fire & Rescue officers were conducting a welfare check on Sunday when they found John Thiry, 47, who appeared to be very sick, The Mail Tribune reported (https://bit.ly/2rNvyQm ).
Thiry was taken to a hospital, where he died. Additional details on the cause of his death were not immediately available.
Thiry was charged with 24 counts of reckless endangerment and reckless burning in 2010, accused of starting a large fire after he flicked a lit cigarette into dried weeds and grass. A judge later acquitted him on all counts, saying the state could not prove he was consciously aware of his actions and the potential consequences.
Medford Fire-Rescue Battalion Chief Mark James Burns died in March 2016 after a long illness with lung damage he suffered while fighting the fire.
Thiry was cited multiple times by police for consuming alcohol and drugs in public, trespass and disorderly conduct during the years following his acquittal. He was a well-known homeless person in the area.
Todd Kidd, an Ashland resident who knew Thiry growing up, said he really needed someone to reach out and help him, but that never happened.
“He didn’t have any help, and left to himself, look what happened,” Kidd said. “We’re all responsible for his death. We all turned a blind eye to him.”
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Information from: Mail Tribune, https://www.mailtribune.com/
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