Accidentally Fired Flare Gun : 2 From San Diego Admit Starting Blaze in Sierra
Two brothers from San Diego have confessed to accidentally starting a 2,550-acre forest fire west of Yosemite National Park that cost $1.27 million to extinguish, a U.S. Forest Service official said Tuesday.
Brandon Goodwin, 27, and Darrin Goodwin, age unavailable, were looking at a flare gun while camping west of El Portal on July 2 when the gun accidentally discharged, firing a flare into the tinder dry forest, said Pat Kaunert, U.S. Forest Service spokesman in Sonora.
“The flare hit the side of the hill and it immediately started a fire,” Kaunert said. “It was an accidental firing of the gun.”
Forestry officials had thought illegal fireworks caused the stubborn fire in the Merced River Canyon about 15 miles west of Yosemite Valley.
The two brothers issued a taped confession to Forest Service investigators on Monday, Kaunert said, adding that the two decided to come forward because of media coverage about the fire.
The blaze raged all last week before control was achieved late Friday. About 180 minor injuries were reported as firefighters twisted ankles on the steep, rugged canyon walls or encountered thick stands of poison oak.
Kaunert said the Goodwin brothers will be billed for the entire suppression costs but they won’t be criminally charged.
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