DENVER -- A fire investigator told a federal judge Monday that Colorado's infamous Hayman fire didn't have to be so bad.

Five insurance companies and several property owners are suing the federal government for more than $7 million in federal court.

The lawsuit charges that if the forest service had done a better job of responding and training its employees, the grass fire could have been contained in the first couple of minutes.

The fire, which exploded in June of 2002, burned 140,000 acres and destroyed 133 homes and outbuildings.

Forest service worker Terry Barton admitted to starting the fire when she burned a letter from her estranged husband. She said she thought the paper had burned itself out, but the embers reignited.

She told investigators that by the time she returned to the scene, the blaze was out of control.

Barton was in charge of enforcing the fire ban that was in place at the time.

She was released from federal prison this summer and may testify later this week.