A northern Arizona firefighter has been arrested for allegedly setting fires around the Ash Fork area over a period of a few months.

Since June, both the Yavapai County and Coconino County sheriff’s offices have been searching for a suspected arsonist in connection to multiple fires that have occurred at abandoned homes and wildfires.

On Thursday, detectives were able to connect a suspect to a small fire. That discovery led them to connect the alleged arsonist to, several other recent fires in the area.

Ash Fork firefighter Karson Nutter, 18-years-old, was arrested for linked multiple fires, including four structure fires and four wildfires.

Early on in the investigation, deputies observed what they believe was deceptive and misleading information in statements provided by Nutter. Those statements led to further suspicion and examination.

According to Yavapai County Sheriff’s officials, on Thursday evening, detectives interviewed Nutter again and obtained a full confession of his acts.

Authorities report that Nutter confessed to seven of the eight arson occurrences, which included three of four fires in Yavapai County.

In Yavapai County, reports show there were two separate fires set at the Mobile Station in Ash Fork, with two additional separate fires set at the county cemetery in Ash Fork.

In Coconino County investigators have reported that Nutter allegedly set fire to two abandoned homes in Kaibab Estates West. In addition, he confessed to two wildfires on Forrest Service Road 124.

During his confession, Nutter reportedly provided several reasons for his motives in setting the fires. The reasons ranged from ” chasing a thrill, boredom, retaliation against a former employer, and setting fires to some abandoned homes for simply being ‘ugly.”

Nutter was arrested in Yavapai County on Thursday and now faces multiple charges, including arson, aggravated criminal damage, providing false suspect information, and more.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office plans to bring further charges at a later time.