Marshall Fire caused by reignited burn authorities say

BY OLIVIA PRENTZEL THE COLORADO SUN

Embers buried for six days on a residential property reignited and together with sparks from an “unmoored” Xcel Energy power line started the 2021 Marshall Fire in Boulder County, the sheri said.

A residential re Dec. 24 to burn scrap wood and tree branches resurfaced because of the winds Dec. 30, Boulder County Sheri Curtis Johnson said. e sheri said the re was put out “responsibly” Dec. 24 when it was buried. But around 11 a.m. Dec. 30 high winds, pushing 100 mph, resurfaced embers and started a shed on re at 5325 Eldorado Springs Rd.

A second re was started that day by Xcel power lines and also quickly spread, and at some point the two res combined, Johnson said on June 8.

e sheri , who lost his house in the re, said the underground coal res also cannot be ruled out.

e district attorney’s o ce determined there was “insu cient or no evidence of a crime” and no reason to le charges, Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said.

“If we were to tell you today that we were ling charges it would be wrong and unethical,” Dougherty said. “We can only le charges if there’s evidence of a crime being committed.”

Dougherty said investigators found no evidence of negligence or reck-