Two teens charged with 2nd degree arson for North Turkey Creek Fire

From the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office:

Yesterday, Andrew Askins and Riley Costello, both 18 years old, were booked through the jail pending 2nd degree arson charges for starting the North Turkey Creek Fire by lighting fireworks. The fire spread to seven acres and burned an outbuilding, a storage unit, and two vehicles. Six fire agencies with 15 fire trucks and 34 firefighters worked diligently for hours to keep the fire from engulfing five homes. Eight residences and several businesses were evacuated. Eleven animals were rescued. 60 school children were diverted to a reunification center because their bus routes home were closed. Colorado State Patrol, Morrison PD, and JeffCo Road & Bridge helped close Highway 285 and North and South Turkey Creek Roads.

A lot of resources were required to contain a wildland fire started by fireworks during a fire ban. Thankfully, no one was injured and no homes were lost, but this is an opportunity to remind people of the dangers of ignoring fire ban restrictions that are issued to protect our residents and their property. The following restrictions are in effect during the current temporary fire ban for all of Jefferson County:

1. Building, maintaining, attending or using any fire (gas grills are okay; charcoal grills are not)

2. No recreational fires, including recreational campfires

3. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area of at least six feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all combustible material

4. Open burning including “bon fires” that require a permit from the fire authority having jurisdiction

5. The use of all fireworks

6. Shooting tracer rounds or explosive type targets

7. Operating a chain saw without a USDA or SAE approved spark arresting device properly installed and in proper working order, and having a extinguishing source, water, pressurized water extinguisher, or a proper chemical pressurized extinguisher, large enough to handle nearby hazards, and possessing at least one large size pointed shovel with an overall length of at least thirty-six inches. All must be readily available for quick use.

8. Welding and cutting torch appliances shall only be operated within an area that is barren or cleared of all combustible material at least 30 feet in all directions from the operating equipment. This operation may only be done during a declared “Fire Ban” upon receiving a permit from the fire authority having jurisdiction over the operating location.

9. Use of an explosive initiation system requiring a burning fuse line