Grass fire Hwy 74 near Lair O The Bear

Law enforcement is on scene and has confirmed a 20'x20' grass fire on Hwy 74 at Lair O The Bear near the river. Foothills Fire was initially toned out.

Highland Rescue and Genesee Fire en route.

Standing down all units not on scene.
Water on the fire, no flames seen at this time. Mop up in progress.

Jeffco Sheriff, Foothills Fire, Highland Rescue, and Genesee Fire were all on scene. Jeffco Open Space rangers are en route to assist.

No flames seen still, calling it the Falls Fire.

Officially calling the fire out.

From Jeffco Sheriff’s Office 1 hour ago:
Suspect Arrested in Connection with Intentional Brush Fire Along Highway 74

At about 4:46 p.m. on June 29, 2026, Jefferson County Sheriff's deputies responded to a report of a man intentionally setting fire to brush near mile marker 16 on State Highway 74.

Multiple witnesses called 911 after observing a man standing over a fire on the south side of the highway. Deputies located an active brush fire in a ravine south of the highway. Deputies quickly located a suspect matching the witnesses' description and detained him without incident.

One deputy used a fire extinguisher to slow the spread of the flames until fire personnel arrived and fully extinguished the fire. During the investigation, deputies recovered a lighter near the fire's origin.

The suspect was identified as Royce Ben Jameson, 25, of New Mexico. He was arrested on suspicion of the offense of Firing Woods or Prairie, 18-13-109 (2) (a), an F6, and Third Degree Criminal Trespass, 18-4-504, a petty offense. The quick reporting by community members and the rapid response by deputies and fire personnel helped prevent the fire from spreading further.

Jameson is being held at the Jefferson County Detention Center on a $5,000 cash or surety bond.

The charges are merely legal allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent of the charges against them unless and until they are proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.