Teens may have started Colorado fire by accident
May 21, 1996
Web posted at: 5 p.m. EDTBUFFALO CREEK, Colorado (CNN) -- Investigators questioned several teen-agers Tuesday who may have accidentally started a Colorado wildfire that has charred about 11,000 acres of Pike National Forest southwest of Denver.
(417K QuickTime movie)The teens, boys and girls up to the age of 16, admitted that their campfire may have caused the blaze.
"They didn't start the fire on purpose," said Ed Nesselroad with the U.S. Forest Service.
Even so, Forest Service officials said the youths could face six months in jail, and their parents could be slapped with a $350,000 bill to cover firefighting costs.
Fires slowing
Meanwhile, 600 firefighters continued battling the blaze. They received a boost from nature Monday night as temperatures cooled, humidity rose and an overnight shower sprinkled the burned region.
The blaze was 60 percent contained Tuesday and full containment was expected by Friday or Saturday, said Linda Hecker of the Forest Service.
"The firefighters have been getting a good handle on it because of the weather."
However, there was concern that a weather front might move in Thursday and help feed the flames.
In northern Arizona, officials said leftover branches and stumps set afire by loggers -- possibly months ago -- may have sparked a fire in the Coconino National Forest that consumed 7,700 acres.
The smoldering embers had been buried under snow in February but were insulated by the soil, the Forest Service said.
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Related stories:
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- Firefighters hope low winds will help them - May 20, 1996
- Intense flames lap at Rocky Mountain foothills - May 19, 1996
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