Errant Cooking Blamed For Coleville FireWednesday, June 30, 2004 - 10:20 AM
It was human error and not lightning that sparked a 940-acre wildfire near Coleville, California.
Investigators say four youths had built a cooking fire and a gust of wind blew embers into nearby brush Monday afternoon. The Mono County district attorney's office will determine whether any charges should be filed.
The fire is expected to be contained later today.
It erupted near where some 470 firefighters were battling a 2,100-acre wildfire that began on Friday in the same area about 70 miles south of Reno.
The larger blaze was fully contained yesterday and crews were reassigned to attack the new fire.
They were joined by ten helicopters.
Five single-engine air tankers were sent back to their base.
The smaller fire was 75 percent contained last evening after briefly threatening a Marine Corps housing unit and closing U-S 395.
The highway linking western Nevada to Southern California reopened at midday yesterday.
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