DENVER -- Former Forest Service technician Terry Lynn Barton was sentenced to six years in prison Friday after tearfully apologizing and telling a courtroom filled with family, friends and victims, that she hasn't forgiven herself for starting Colorado's largest-ever wildfire.

"The fact that I hurt people kills me each and every day because I do love people," she said. "So I'd just like to say that I am sorry."

Barton, 39, pleaded guilty in December to federal charges of igniting the 138,000-acre fire, then lying to investigators. Last month, she pleaded guilty to a single state arson charge, which was filed to cover property damage.

U.S. District Judge Richard Matsch rejected the federal government's request that Barton be fined $14.7 million in restitution to pay for firefighting and restoration in the Pike National Forest, where the fire burned for two months.

"I'm not going to sentence Ms. Barton to a life in poverty," he said.

Discussion

DISCUSSION The Barton Sentence

U.S. Attorney John Suthers said the government would pursue a civil lawsuit to secure repayment if Barton comes into money in the future, such as by selling the rights to her story for a book or movie or if she wins the lottery.

"We will bring a civil action just to protect the U.S. government," Suthers said.

Suthers said the government would wait for the verdict in Barton's state arson case. She faces up to 12 years in prison on that charge when she is sentenced March 5. The sentencing may run concurrent with the federal sentence. For that reason, Friday's sentencing was stayed until after the state court hearing.

Last summer's fire destroyed 133 homes and one business, an estimated $13 million in property damage. In filing the state charge, prosecutors alleged Barton started the fire on someone else's property, and endangered firefighters, residents and property.

Barton was released from a halfway house in September and is living with family friends in Colorado, said Jessica Leto, a spokeswoman for the public defender's office, which represents Barton in the federal case.

Barton, whose job included spotting illegal fires, first told authorities she smelled smoke and discovered the fire while patrolling the Pike National Forest on June 8. Later she said she started the blaze while burning a letter from her estranged husband in a campfire ring.

The Forest Service fired Barton after she was arrested.

The fire southwest of Denver was contained July 2 and brought under control July 19. It was one of several that raged in Colorado this year, scorching 915,000 acres.