Forestry employee charged with starting Colorado's Hayman wildfire

CASTLE ROCK, Colo. -- A U.S. Forestry Service employee was charged Sunday with starting the fire that scorched more than 100,000 acres in the Pike National Forest and destroyed at least 22 homes.\nForestry technician Terry Barton, 38, admitted to starting a campfire within a designated campfire ring while patrolling the forest to enforce a fire ban, said Bill Leone of the U.S. Attorney's Office.\nBarton was charged with setting fire to timber in the national forest, damaging federal property in excess of $100,000 and making false statements to investigators, Leone said.\n"She attempted to suppress the fire but it grew," Leone said.\nIf convicted, Barton could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000. She was arrested Sunday morning; it was not immediately clear whether she had an attorney.\n"I want to begin by saying, this is one of the hardest announcements I've had to make in my career," said Rick Cables, regional forester for the Rocky Mountain Region for the U.S. Forest Service.\n"I'm shocked and with a lot of other people, in a state of disbelief," Cables said. "I'm saddened to say that one of our employees has admitted to starting the Hayman fire."\nFirefighters gained ground Sunday on the wildfire that had burned within 40 miles of Denver city limits since it was started June 8, threatening southwestern suburbs.\nWith the blaze about 35 percent contained, about 5,400 people remained out of their homes. It was one of seven fires burning in the state Sunday.\nScattered puffs of smoke could be seen on mountainsides once totally obscured by smoke.\n"Hopefully, this fire is going to now stay essentially where it is at," said Bobby Kitchens, a fire information officer. "We don't expect to see any more significant acreage gains."\nSheriff's deputies escorted some residents to retrieve belongings and assess damage, but didn't allow them to stay. Frustrated residents waited at the command post, trying to learn when they'll be able to return for good.\n"It started to get to be a long period because one of the big things is I don't like eating out. I miss cooking at home," said Bob James, 46, who has been out of his home north of Lake George since Tuesday.\nAnother blaze flared in southwest Colorado and forced the evacuation of more than 330 homes. The latest fire had burned more than 20,000 acres in the San Juan National Forest by Sunday morning.\nIn addition to the evacuations, residents of 450 homes were told to be ready to leave. One cabin was destroyed, and fire managers were trying to determine whether others had burned.\nMore than 900 firefighters battled the blaze, about 10 miles north of Durango.\nIn California, 200 residents and campers returned home after fleeing a fire that burned 3,500 acres and destroyed five homes Saturday about 30 miles northeast of Bakersfield.\nHigher humidity and slightly cooler temperatures also helped crews battling fires in northern New Mexico. The state's largest blaze, which has blackened 92,500 acres on the Philmont Scout Ranch, was 75 percent contained and full containment is expected Wednesday.