Suggs and another man 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 the men left a poorly extinguished campfire, smoldering as hot, dry winds whipped down from mountain peaks, that sparked the fire Saturday, forcing evacuations of almost 2,000 people southwest of Boulder, the Post reported.
“The men did not ensure that the fire was properly extinguished by dousing it with water, or making sure the ashes were cool to the touch before leaving the site”, an official with the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office told a local ABC affiliate. The female with them is not facing charges because investigators say she had nothing to do with starting or maintaining the camp fire.
Authorities believe the winds in the area combined with the weather allowed the fire to continue smoldering.
They were arrested Sunday at a shelter for people evacuated by the fire, which has burned about a square mile.
CBS4)- Fire crews continued their attack on the Cold Springs Fire as the wildfire continued to grow in Boulder County on Monday as more homes were lost.
According to the affidavit, witnesses told the sheriff’s office they had seen the three camping near where the fire started.
Authorities say dozens of more homes are in the path of the fire. The fire is moving northeast with limited containment.
The campfire that sparked the fire was about a mile away from an established campground popular with transients, Boulder County Sheriff’s Office division chief Heidi Prentup said.
Xcel Energy’s website showed about 1,800 people were without power in the Nederland area.
“Oh yeah, we seen around where it started”, said Burdeshaw in the video.
Officials said late Sunday that the blaze in the foothills of the Santa Susana Mountains was 65 percent contained after consuming about 1.7 square miles of thick chaparral.
New evacuation orders have been issued for south and southeast of Barker Reservoir off Boulder Canyon Road, CBS News reports.
Several wildfires are burning in Colorado, including one that has scorched nearly 19 square miles near Salida.
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The Colorado National Guard said more than 50 soldiers and airmen were fighting the fire and providing security.
