An 18-year-old man is charged with starting a fire just west of Indian Hills that prompted evacuations and briefly closed U.S. 285 last month in unincorporated Jefferson County, the 1st Judicial District attorney’s office said Thursday.
Andrew Askins was charged with two counts of second-degree arson for the fire. Investigators believe he and another teen started the blaze, known as the North Turkey Creek fire, while playing with fireworks March 22.
The fire destroyed one outbuilding, and two vehicles and eight homes and businesses were advised to evacuate.
A Jefferson County sheriff’s deputy who arrived at the the fire about 12:57 p.m. came upon a man who told him he saw “two kids running around trying to put it out with shovels,” according to an arrest warrant affidavit.
The man tried to help put out the fire, but it grew quickly. The two boys admitted to the man that they started the fire by shooting off fireworks.
Askins told the deputy a Roman candle started the fire, adding that he was sorry, according to the arrest affidavit. Askins also identified his friend who had left the property as Riley Costello, 18, the affidavit said.
Deputies later contacted Costello by phone. He told them that “Askins began chasing him around, trying to shoot him with the bottle rockets, and also a Roman candle.” Costello denied shooting fireworks himself, although Askins said he did light bottle rockets, the affidavit said.
An estimated 6 acres burned.
Askins and Costello were booked at the Jefferson County jail and were released pending charges.
Costello has not been charged.