Fire investigators said a man conducting a controlled burn near his home on Thursday was likely the cause of the fire in Valencia County that burned up to 800 acres and forced the evacuations of more than 100 residents.
The resident conducted the burn on Thursday, which was a legal burn day, and thought the fire was out when winds picked up embers from the ash and erupted into a massive fire that took several agencies to put out. State Forestry Division spokesman, Dan Ware, said that man has been given a warning.
A total of four fires threatened the community of Belen Friday. The fire destroyed two mobile homes and several out buildings. Ashley and Stephen Bird were among those who lost their home in the fire.
"I saw the flames, it was 40 feet in the air, and then I heard they were evacuating the area," Stephen Bird told Action 7 News. "We lost a cat of 20 years. We had to bury her [Saturday] morning."
But after returning to the charred remains that was his home, Bird still remained optimistic.
"We got each other, we're alive, we're okay," he said.
Evacuated residents were allowed to return to their homes late Friday night. Residents who saw the fire burn close to their homes couldn't believe their luck.
"We've seen these on television before, you know, but never close to us," said Sandi and Rick Muelhausen, a couple evacuated from their home. "This is as close as I want it to get."
Funding made available through the Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) will reimburse 75 percent of the cost of the fire managed by the state. Costs covered by FMAG grants include everything from direct fire suppression to overtime. But the grant will not help residents, as it does not reimburse for private damages and losses.
