Klamath Falls, Ore. – On Monday, October 13, 2025, at approximately 5:48 a.m., the Klamath Falls Police Department received a report of a dumpster fire in the alley behind 200 Main St. in Klamath Falls. Responding officers arrived on scene and were able to extinguish the fire without any further damage to the surrounding area. During the investigation, officers received a physical description of the suspect from witnesses and from surveillance cameras in the area.
While conducting a search of the area for the suspect, officers received additional reports of fires in the downtown corridor. The Klamath County Fire District responded and put out a fire in the alley behind a business in the 400 block of Main St. A short time later, another fire was reported in the alley behind a church in the 600 block of Pine St where the responding officer was able to extinguish the fire.
The suspect was located by officers within minutes of the last fire in the 400 block of North 9th St. The suspect was identified as thirty-five (35) year old Preston Helgesen, who was subsequently arrested for starting the fires. Helgesen was transported to the Klamath County Jail and lodged for three (3) counts of Arson in the 1st degree, two (2) counts of Reckless Burning, and one (1) count of Criminal Mischief in the 1st degree.
We are grateful for the immediate response of our officers and the Klamath County Fire District for extinguishing these fires before they got out of control and created a greater danger to the community.
If anyone has additional information regarding this investigation, please call the Klamath Falls Police Department at 541-883-5336 and refer to KFPD Case 2025-10130013.
