Felony charges were filed Tuesday against three Platte Canyon High School teenagers Tuesday in connection with the start of the Snaking fire on April 23 in Bailey, Co.

The Park County district attorney filed felony counts against two 14-year-olds, and one 15-year-old, and said each is subject to be tried as an adult.

The district attorney also filed additional misdemeanor and petty offense charges against the three in connection with the same alleged incident.

The district attorney asked that the three teens be placed in juvenile detention for a period of not less than one year, if they are found guilty.

Each teen was individually charged with felony fourth-degree arson for "knowingly and recklessly" starting and maintaining a fire on national forest property.

Two misdemeanor counts were filed against the three for fourth-degree arson and firing woods or prairie.

The three teens were under suspicion within hours after the fire started. They had left the school grounds without authorization to smoke cigarettes on a ridge above the high school where the fire ignited, friends told investigators.

Connie Griebel said her son, freshman Joe Griebel, heard his classmates "bragging at lunchtime about ditching class and going up and smoking," said Connie Griebel.

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

"I'd like to see the boys go into the homes that had smoke damage and recarpet and repaint, so they could see what they caused," said Cyndi Raymer who had to flee her Bailey home for two nights.