Members of the Arapahoe County sheriff’s bomb squad caused an 1,313-acre grass fire Feb. 20 when they failed to follow proper safety procedures during a training exercise, an internal investigation has concluded.
Deputies were detonating expired pepper-spray canisters on the north side of the 36000 block of East Quincy Avenue in unincorporated Arapahoe County when the fire began.
High winds spread the fire rapidly and seven fire departments and heavy-equipment crews from Arapahoe County Public Works contained the blaze within about three hours, but flare-ups continued for five days.
One house was evacuated. No one was injured.
Arapahoe Sheriff Grayson Robinson said his office initiated the internal affairs investigation to determine the fire’s origin and whether safety protocols were followed.
Information about the fire was presented to the district attorney, but no criminal charges will be filed, Robinson said. However, he said deputies involved in the training exercise may face department penalties.
The blaze was initially believed to be about 200 acres, but the investigation, which included analysis using Global Positioning System technology, found that 1,313 acres had been charred.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
