A Vancouver teenager charged in juvenile court with starting an explosive wildfire in Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge last fall by tossing a lit firecracker into the woods pleaded guilty Friday in a deal that spares him time in custody.

The boy, who was 15 at the time, has not been identified by authorities because of fear for his safety after an angry backlash from those who consider the scenic Gorge a cherished playground on Portland’s doorstep. He appeared in court in Hood River, Ore., with his parents, who followed the hearing with the help of an interpreter.

The teen’s family emigrated to the U.S. in 2000 from Ukraine.

He pleaded guilty to eight counts of reckless burning of public and private property, two counts of depositing burning materials on forest land, and one count each of second-degree criminal mischief and reckless endangerment of others — all misdemeanors.

District Judge John Olson sentenced the teen to serve 1,920 hours of community service and five years of probation, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. A hearing in May will determine the details of restitution.