LOVELAND, Colo.—A northern Colorado man has pleaded guilty to starting a fire that spread quickly, burning two homes and scorching 740 acres this fall.
The Loveland Reporter-Herald reports that Joel Ledermann pleaded guilty to misdemeanor arson Friday for the wildfire in the foothills west of Loveland in September. He won’t face jail time when he is sentenced Tuesday because of a plea agreement that lowered the charge against him from a felony .
Authorities say the fire started when Ledermann was burning brush on his property. They say he didn’t have a permit and didn’t take precautions.
The fire erupted as crews were wrapping up at a nearly 10-square-mile blaze near Boulder that destroyed at least 166 homes.
———
Information from: Loveland Daily Reporter-Herald,
