Boulder County fire investigators have determined the near Hygiene was caused by target shooters at the Round Mountain Ranch on Ute Highway.
The target shooters had been shooting steel plates when a fragment from one of the rounds ignited nearby grasses, which were extremely dry, the sheriff’s office said in a news release. The target shooters attempted to extinguish the fire but it spread rapidly due to the dry fuels on the ground and the weather conditions, including high winds. The target shooters placed the 911 call reporting the fire.
Investigators are discussing the circumstances surrounding the cause of the fire with the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office to determine if criminal charges will be filed. The identities of the target shooters has not been released and the investigation remains open.
The 151-acre fire began around 5 p.m. Monday and was 100 percent contained by Tuesday morning, burning three outbuildings and one barn. The fire was one of several wildfires this week along the Front Range, where record high temperatures, strong winds and dry conditions created and prompted red-flag warnings.
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