The US Forest Service said on Sunday it has arrested one of its own for setting one of several wildfires that have ravaged the western state of Colorado for the past several days, forcing thousands to flee their homes.
Terry Barton could face up 10 years in prison on charges of starting the fire in a national forest in central Colorado, destroying government property and lying to investigators.
”This is one of the hardest announcements I’ve had to make in my career,” Forest Service official Rick Cables said at a news conference.
”I am saddened to say that one of our employees has admitted to starting the Hayman fire.”
Barton (38) a forestry technician for the Forest Service, has admitted to starting the blaze while patrolling to enforce a ban on fires in the drought-stricken state, US federal prosecutor Bill Leone said.
She said she was unable to put out the fire, which quickly grew out of control, Leone said. Colorado Governor Bill Owens declared a state of emergency on Monday as eight wildfires burned across the state, sending flames and thick smoke spewing across the region.
The giant blaze near the state capital of Denver is the worst ever to hit Colorado and is one of six burning around the state. It has already consumed
43 700 hectares, destroying homes, causing some 5 400 people to flee, and costing more than $20-million.
More than 1 700 firefighters from around the nation have worked to contain the blaze.
Fires are an annual phenomenon in the western United States — which is dominated by desert, hot weather and strong winds — but a very dry winter and years of drought have rendered the area especially vulnerable this year. – Sapa-AFP