Deer Creek Fire Suspect Should Be Charged With Cruelty-to-Animals, PETA Says

For Immediate Release:
October 15, 2025

Contact:
Moira Colley 202-483-7382

Today, PETA sent a letter to San Juan County Attorney Mitchell Maughan, asking him to add cruelty-to-animals charges to the reckless burning and other charges that Scott Carrier already faces in connection with the devastating Deer Creek fire, which scorched nearly 18,000 acres of land in July.

PETA points out that in addition to destroying homes and other buildings, catastrophic fires terrorize, injure, kill, and displace countless wild and domestic animals. In just one example, a cat rescued from the Deer Creek fire by Moab Valley firefighters required emergency veterinary care after suffering painful burns to the abdomen, face, legs, and paws.

“As the Deer Creek fire ravaged San Juan County, an untold number of terrified animals saw their world disappear, at least one cat sustained agonizing burns, and many other animals were surely killed,” says PETA Vice President Daniel Paden. “PETA is asking County Attorney Maughan to hold the perpetrator accountable for causing so much suffering.”

Prosecutors in California and Oregon have pursued cruelty-to-animals charges after PETA sent them similar requests, and won convictions.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—points out thatEvery Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.

PETA’s letter to Maughan follows.

October 15, 2025

The Honorable Mitchell Maughan

San Juan County Attorney

Dear Mr. Maughan:

I hope this letter finds you well. I’m writing to request that your office add cruelty-to-animals charges, as appropriate, to the reckless burning and related charges that Scott Carrier already faces, in connection with the devastating Deer Creek fire near La Sal.

While it’s well-known that the fire destroyed more than a dozen homes and other structures and scorched nearly 18,000 acres of land, catastrophic fires like this one also inflict terror and suffering on many domesticated and wild animals, causing them to experience prolonged, agonizing deaths. For example, Moab Valley Fire Department firefighters rescued a cat from the Deer Creek fire who required emergency veterinary treatment for painful burns to his or her abdomen, face, legs, and paws.

Utah Code § 76-9-301(2)(c) states that a person who “recklessly, or with criminal negligence … injures an animal” is guilty of cruelty to that animal. Given that Carrier is accused of recklessly causing a wildfire that seriously injured at least one cat—and that surely injured an untold number of other animals—I respectfully ask that investigators and your office add cruelty-to-animals charges to those counts he already faces. Prosecutors in California and Oregon pursued such charges in similar cases, resulting in convictions.

Thank you for your consideration and for the difficult work that you do.

Sincerely,

Sarah Deffinger

Senior Evidence Analyst

Cruelty Investigations Department