BAILEY, Colo. -- The Park County Sheriff's Office and Forest Service arson investigators have determined the cause and origin of the Snaking Gulch fire and have turned their case over to the District Attorney's Office for filing of charges.

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Park Sheriff Discusses Charges

The cause was determined to be either a cigarette or a lighter, according to a the sheriff's office.

"At this time we don't believe it was intentionally set," said Sheriff Fred Wegener. "We still are going to arrest them for a couple of different crimes."

Wegener would not elaborate on what the charges would be. He said that determination would be made by the district attorney.

Three Platte Canyon High School students are under investigation in connection with the fire.

Deputy District Attorney Dave Thorson said earlier that charges against the youths could be filed as early as Friday, however no charges had been filed by 5 p.m., Friday.

Thorson met with attorneys for two of the three students Friday morning. Those students refused to talk to investigators without their attorneys present. The third boy has been cooperating with authorities in their investigation.

The fire cost an estimated $2.6 million and threatened hundreds of homes as it burned 2,312 acres.