RAPID CITY (AP) - A Meade County rancher has been charged with murder and arson in the death of a 48-year-old firefighter who died of burns received while fighting an August wildfire.
Ray Wicks, 71, was charged Monday in circuit court with first-degree murder and third-degree arson in the death of David Martin of Opal.
Wicks, of Red Owl, faces life in prison if he is convicted on the murder charge.
Martin, a volunteer firefighter, died Aug. 6 at a hospital in St. Paul, Minn. He had been burned over 80 percent of body on Aug. 1 while fighting a fire in east central Meade County.
He fell off a small fire truck and into the fire when the truck hit a bump. Wind blowing at 30 mph to 35 mph pushed the fire over him, said Stoneville Fire Chief Bob Young.
The arson charge stems from the fatal fire.
Wicks initially was charged with aggravated assault but authorities upgraded the charge after Martin died.
The fire was one of several suspicious fires to break out in a 3- to 4-mile stretch between Red Owl and Marcus during a four-day period. Wicks has not been charged with setting any other fires.
His next court date has been set for Oct. 28. He remains free on bond.
