On April 5, 2026, at approximately 9:07 AM, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Regional Communications Center received multiple reports of several fires in the Hanover area of unincorporated El Paso County.
Callers also reported an adult male fleeing the area on foot into an adjacent field.
Hanover Fire personnel responded and requested law enforcement assistance due to reports of an active arsonist.
El Paso County Sheriff’s Office (EPSO) Patrol deputies arrived and established a perimeter; officers from the Fountain Police Department (FPD) and deputies from the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) responded to assist.
Drones from EPSO and FPD were deployed. On-scene personnel and drone operators identified approximately seven separate fires, along with one vehicle fire, within a one-mile area extending southwest along the creek bed near High Stakes View.
A fire investigator from the Fountain Fire Department responded and determined the fires originated near the 21200 block of High Stakes View and extended to a vehicle fire behind a residence on High Stakes View.
The fires were determined to have been intentionally set.
At approximately 11 AM, deputies located an unresponsive adult male matching the suspect description near Indian Village Heights and Boca Raton Heights.
Law enforcement personnel responded and rendered aid, administering Narcan. The male regained consciousness and was identified as 33-year-old Dana Rempel.
Evidence was found during the investigation which linked Rempel to the scenes of the fires.
Rempel was taken into custody, transported for medical clearance, and subsequently booked into the El Paso County Jail on charges of fourth-degree arson and additional felony charges. He is being held on a $50,000.00 bond.
“I want to extend my sincere gratitude to all responding personnel whose professionalism and swift action helped bring this fire under control safely and effectively,” said El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal. “I also want to thank our community members; your vigilance and quick decision to report the fire made a critical difference. Because of that early call, we were able to respond rapidly and achieve a successful outcome.
“Let me be clear: those who make reckless choices that endanger our community, such as the suspect in this case, will be held accountable. In the Pikes Peak region, we are committed to ensuring swift and appropriate justice for actions that put lives and property at risk.”
All fires were extinguished with no structural damage or loss of life. No injuries to first responders were reported.