A Warm Springs woman who admitted to starting a wildfire in July 2013 told federal prosecutors she started the blaze by tossing a firework out of an open car window because her firefighter friends were bored and needed the work.



Two days later, Sadie Renee Johnson, 23, posted "like my fire?" on Facebook.



By that time, the Sunnyside Turnoff fire had grown to nearly 30,000 acres, threatening homes and livestock on the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs reservation. It eventually grew to 51,480 acres and took two months to bring under complete control at a cost to the Bureau of Indian Affairs of $7.9 million.



Johnson, who pleaded guilty to before U.S. District Judge Marco A. Hernandez on May 19, is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 3.





A tree goes up in flames on inside the fire lines of the Sunnyside Turnoff fire on the Confederated Tribes of Warm Spring reservation on July 22.

"Intentionally starting a wildfire has severe consequences as Ms. Johnson learned," said Assistant. U.S. Attorney Craig Gabriel who helped prosecute the case. "What she thought would be a small fire instead turned out to be a 50,000-acre blaze that cost the Bureau of Indian Affairs $7.9 million to suppress."



Under the plea agreement, the government and defense agreed to recommend a sentence of 18 months in prison, although the judge is not bound by the recommendation. Under federal law, she faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years probation.



The agreement also calls for her to pay full restitution of $7.9 million.



-- Stuart Tomlinson

Helen Jung of The Oregonian staff contributed to this report.