ORDWAY — No criminal charges will be filed against a man who allegedly caused an April wildfire that burned across southeastern Colorado’s Crowley County in April and killed two volunteer firefighters.
District Attorney Rod Fouracre, who completed the investigation, said Wednesday the fire was an accident and involved no criminal causes. The decision not to charge Sam Martson was based on a report from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and other information, Fouracre said.
CBI agents determined that although the fire was human-caused, there was no evidence of criminal intent.
The Crowley County Sheriff’s Office, however, planned to issue a summons to Martson, who allegedly violated a county ordinance by not getting permission to start a prescribed burn April 14, Fouracre said.
The fire probably was reignited April 15 by gusting winds. It burned 14 square miles of prairie grass and crops and destroyed 22 homes. Two volunteer firefighters were killed.
Property damage is estimated at $887,000, according to a report from the county assessor. The figure does not include homes that suffered smoke or other damage.
John W. Schwartz Jr., a 38-year-old Olney Springs volunteer firefighter, died alongside fellow firefighter Terry DeVore, 31, when their emergency vehicle crashed on Colorado 96 as a burned-out bridge collapsed.
