UPTON, MA — A man was arrested Jan. 22 at the scene of an outdoor fire near the Peppercorn Hill parking area along Crockett Road.
Cameron Griffin, 28, of Upton, was charged with unlawful burning, disorderly conduct, and disturbing the peace in connection with the fire.
He was additionally charged with child endangerment in light of a child who was in his vehicle at the time of the incident.
An off-duty Upton firefighter saw the blaze in its early stages after being alerted by his wife and drove from his nearby home to the scene.
The firefighter positioned his vehicle to block Griffin’s escape and remained on scene until Upton Police arrived and took him into custody.
Upton Fire Chief Michael Marchand identified the firefighter as Firefighter/EMT Matthew Kerr.
“Matt didn’t hesitate to respond to what could have grown to a significant brush fire,” said Chief Marchand.
“Once at the scene, his decisive action helped Upton Police take the suspect into custody and likely end this spree of incendiary fires,” he said.
Thursday’s fire was one of several in the area since last summer, with at least five reported between July 25 and July 26, and another on Jan. 13.
The fires are being investigated by the Upton and Milford police and fire departments, the Department of Conservation & Recreation, and the State Police Fire & Explosion Investigation Unit assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s office.
Investigators plan to seek additional charges in connection with the incidents, all of which took place in the Peppercorn Hill Conservation Area.
