2 Who Admitted To Starting Lake Christine Fire Sentenced

EAGLE COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4)- Two people who admitted to causing the massive Lake Christine Fire in July 2018 were sentenced on Monday. A judge sentenced both Allison Marcus and Richard Miller to 45 days in jail, 1,500 hours of community service, $100,000 of restitution each and five years of probation.

Marcus and Miller pleaded guilty to setting fire to woods or prairie, a misdemeanor, last month. Both originally faced 4th degree arson charges. Those charges were dismissed.

Prosecutors say Marcus fired a tracer round at the Basalt State Wildlife Area Shooting Range. There were stage two fire restrictions in effect at the time.

Three homes were destroyed, hundreds of people were forced to evacuate for weeks, but no one was hurt.

Numbers provided by the district attorney's office detail the damage. The fire started nearly a year ago, on July 3, 2018, and burned more than 12,000 acres for nearly a month and a half. The total cost of damage and first responder efforts is estimated at $25 million.

Court officials say Marcus and Miller would have to work eight hours every week for nearly four years to complete their community service.

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