The US Forest Service has arrested one of its own for setting one of several wildfires that have ravaged the western state of Colorado for the past several days, forcing thousands to flee their homes.
Forest service worker Ms Terry Barton, 38, could face up to 20 years in prison and more than $500,000 in fines, on charges of starting the fire in a national forest in central Colorado, destroying government property and lying to investigators.
"This is one of the hardest announcements I've had to make in my career," Forest Service official Mr Rick Cables said at a news conference Sunday.
"I am saddened to say that one of our employees has admitted to starting the Hayman fire."
Ms Barton, a forestry technician for the Forest Service, was looking for illegal fires on June 8th when she stopped to burn a letter from her estranged husband in a campfire ring, according to court documents.
But she was unable to put out the fire, which quickly grew out of control.
The 18-year veteran of the forest service is being held in the El Paso County jail, and is scheduled to appear in US District Court in Denver today.
Colorado Governor Bill Owens declared a state of emergency last week, as eight wildfires burned across the state, sending flames and thick smoke spewing across the region.
The giant blaze near the state capital of Denver is the worst ever to hit Colorado and is one of six burning around the state. It has already consumed 43,700 hectares (108,000 acres), destroying homes, causing some 5,400 people to flee, and costing more than $20 million dollars damage.
More than 1,700 firefighters from around the US have worked to contain the blaze.
Fires are an annual phenomenon in the western United States, which is dominated by desert, hot weather and strong winds, but a very dry winter and years of drought have rendered the area especially vulnerable this year.
AFP