An arrest warrant has been issued for a ranch foreman, accusing him of starting the 3,825-acre Mauricio Canyon Fire that destroyed five homes and 10 outbuildings near Walsenburg in January.
Kenneth Lutz, 56, of Trinidad, is named in the warrant, but formal charges have not yet been filed.
"That's the next step," said Paul Wies, the chief deputy district attorney in Walsenburg.
Lutz was the manager of the Spring Canyon Ranch and was burning slash piles from a forest-clearing project when it went out of control in high winds.
According to investigators, Lutz had a burn permit but it required continuous monitoring of the fire and conditions. The permit also made Lutz responsible for any damages caused by the fire.
The blaze burned land in Huerfano and Las Animas counties.
The cost of fighting the Mauricio Canyon Fire was pegged at $412,000, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
Previous Stories:
- January 13, 2006: Investigators Probe Causes Of Latest Wildfires
- January 10, 2006: Statewide Fire Ban In Effect
- January 9, 2006: Winter Wildfires Prompt Statewide Fire Ban
- January 8, 2006: Wildfires Force Mandatory Evacuations In 3 Counties
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