Man blamed For Colorado Wildfire Will Be Billed Up To $60,000

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) -- A target shooter blamed for starting a 35-acre wildfire in the Roosevelt National Forest will be billed up to $60,000 for the cost of extinguishing the blaze, officials said Tuesday.

The man was using an explosive target that is banned on national forest land, said Maribeth Pecotte, a forest service information assistant. His name was not released.

Forest service officials have been in contact with the man. Pecotte said he could still face criminal charges.

The shooter called 911 to report the Sept. 17 blaze and acknowledged he had started it but said it was accidental, Pecotte said.