Sun Jun 16,10:49 PM ET
By JENNIFER HAMILTON, Associated Press Writer
CASTLE ROCK, Colo. (AP) - A U.S. Forest Service employee set the fire that scorched more than 100,000 acres in Colorado and forced thousands to evacuate by burning a letter from her estranged husband in the Pike National Forest, authorities said Sunday.
Forestry technician Terry Barton, 38, admitted starting the fire while patrolling the forest to enforce a fire ban, said assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Leone.
She was charged with setting fire to timber in the national forest, damaging federal property and making false statements to investigators, Leone said.
Barton said she started burning the letter from her estranged husband within a designated campfire ring, where fires normally would be allowed, then tried to put out the blaze.
"She attempted to suppress the fire but it grew," Leone said.
