Andrew Frake, 32, of Browns Mill, New Jersey was arrested and charged with arson.
Investigators say early in the day on Friday May 7th, Frake started a fire in a pit located off the Seneca Trail, Country Lakes.
Upon leaving the area, Frake said he thought he had extinguished the fire. However investigators say a log reignited and high winds spread the fire to neighboring trees.
The fire burned Friday and through the day Saturday, spreading between two counties before finally being contained on Sunday morning.
Frake says he set the fire in a pit to ward off insects, and said he is certain he put the fire out.
"I put the fire out around 1:30 Friday afternoon and [the forest fire] didn't happen for another 24 hours," he said. "I guess it was pretty windy so anything is possible. I've even doubting what's going on."
Frake's case will go to a grand jury for indictment. While he's pleading not guilty, he says, in hindsight, setting the fire in the pit wasn't a good idea.
"It's not a very good thing to do, of course. I wouldn't advise anyone else to do that because this is what could happen to you," he said.
Frake will apply for a public defender and says he will fight the charges.
"I think I'm getting set up by somebody, somebody else did it and I'm taking the fall for it," Frake said.
There were no injuries and no homes were evacuated.
