Charges are being recommended against five suspects in the Plainview Fire, which burned 2,700 acres near Rocky Flats and threatened dozens of homes.
Three suspects were identified Wednesday by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and two remained unnamed because they are 17.
Jonathan Northhaft, 19, of Westminster; Brandon Busby, 18, of Northglenn; and Joshua Greenberg, 18, of Federal Heights face a possible felony charge stemming from the wind-whipped January fire that caused hundreds of residents to evacuate overnight.
“There are going to be charges filed, absolutely,” said Jim Shires, a sheriff’s office spokesman.
Sheriff’s investigators will recommend charges of felony arson; misdemeanor firing woods and prairies; misdemeanor defacing property; and petty offense trespass.
The fire started at about 6:30 p.m. Jan. 10 and burned throughout the night. Flames 40 feet high charred pine trees and consumed grassland.
A water pump house burned down and the fired burned right up to the corner of one home and singed a propane tank.
No one was seriously injured.
More than 200 firefighters from 26 agencies fought the blaze at a cost of about $187,000, Shires said.
Staff writer Kieran Nicholson can be reached at 303-820-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com.
