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SALT LAKE CITY — Governor Gary Herbert warned that people who start wildfires in Utah will be held responsible. Now one man has been charged with arson for starting one of the state's large fires.
In 6th District Court Monday, Wayne County prosecutors charged Lance Durfey, 38, of Torrey, with third-degree felony arson.
The Lost Lake Fire started on June 3 in Fishlake National Forest near Boulder Mountain. It quickly grew to more than 2,000 acres before crews contained it.
Firefighters immediately called the fire suspicious because there were no lighting strikes or campsites in the area where it started.
The U.S. Forest Service and the Wayne County Sheriff's Office launched an investigation and together tracked down Durfey.
Investigators have not released information about how they think Durfey started the fire; that information is expected to come out in court.
The cost of the Lost Lake Fire was estimated at more than $3 million. It's unclear how much of that Durfey will be required to pay if convicted.
