BOULDER, Colo. (AP) – Two campers from Alabama have been arrested in connection with a wildfire that has destroyed three homes and three buildings north of Nederland in Boulder County.
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Authorities say Jimmy Andrew Suggs and Zackary Ryan Kuykendall, both from Alabama, face felony arson charges because of the dangers the fire poses. According to the court documents, they told investigators they had been camping in the area at different sites on what turned out to be private property and reading their Bibles.
The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office said Suggs, Kuykendall and Elizabeth Burdeshaw, 21, started a campfire that burned overnight Thursday into Friday morning.
“The Colorado National Guard is here to help local, state, and federal authorities contain this fire as quickly as possible”.
On Sunday night Reynolds and his wife watched as the fire got dangerously close to their home. The Cold Springs Fire has now spread to over 600 acres and burned down three houses, including a Nederland firefighter’s home, along with three other structures.
Rocky Mountain Incident Commander Shane Greer explains the current fire situation to evacuated residents during a community briefing regarding the Cold Springs Wildfire on Monday, July 11, 2016, at the Nederland High School in Nederland, Colo.
Boulder Canyon will continue to be closed west of Summer Road as fire conditions continue. “A, so we know about it in case a neighbor sees it and calls us, and B, so we can alert you to be aware of any restrictions that may be in place”, Hurst said. As it burns through a large area, the fire has put more homes in danger.
Less than a half-hour later, officials alerted an unknown number of residents in the Magnolia area that the mandatory evacuation order had been lifted. Officials say that fire isn’t expected to be contained until late October. There was some movement on the northwest and northeast areas of the fire and firefighters observed some single tree and group torching.
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Investigators believe the fire was started by a campfire.
