Teen Who Confessed To Starting Snaking Fire Sentenced
Dunst Testified Against Friends
POSTED: 11:30 a.m. MDT June 30, 2003
UPDATED: 4:17 p.m. MDT June 30, 2003
The last teen to be found guilty in connection with last year's Snaking Fire was sentenced Monday to years probation.
Austin Dunst, 15, testified against two other teenagers convicted in igniting the fire. In exchange for his testimony against his friends, Dunst was charged with a misdemeanor.
Dunst was also sentenced to 960 hours of public service work, 500 hours of public service work in the Snaking Fire area, and 20 hours of work in a burn unit. He must also write letters of apology to fire victims.
The other teens, Tyler Hancock, 15, and Eric Alderfer, 16, were found guilty of five felony and misdemeanor charges and sentenced in April to two years probation and nearly 1,000 hours of community service. They must also undergo drug and alcohol treatment, attend family therapy, a fire safety course and write letters of apology to the victims of the fire.
The Snaking Fire burned more 2,312 acres near Bailey and forced more than 1,000 families to evacuate. It took $2.68 million and 600 firefighters, air tankers and helicopters to contain the blaze.
The April 23 fire was sparked by the students' cigarette. The boys had skipped class at Platte Canyon High School and climbed a ridge behind the school to smoke Camel Lights.
The Snaking Fire was the second wildfire of the 2002 widlfire season in Park County. On April 18, 2002, the Topaz Fire forced the evacuation of the Windy Peak Outdoor Lab near Bailey.
SNAKING FIRE ![]() RESOURCES |
Previous Stories:
- April 29, 2003: Snaking Fire Starters Sentenced
- March 31, 2003: Snaking Fire Sentencing Postponed
- February 18, 2003: Teens Found Guilty Of Starting Snaking Fire
- May 23, 2002: Mandatory Evacuations As Deckers Wildfire Explodes
- May 8, 2002: Teens Charged In Snaking Fire
- May 3, 2002: No Decision On Charges In Bailey Fire
- April 29, 2002: Snaking Fire Fully Contained
- April 28, 2002: Bailey Fire: Full Containment Expected Sunday Night
- April 27, 2002: Fire Evacuees Allowed To Return
- April 26, 2002: Firefighters Get 50 Percent Containment
- April 25, 2002: Snaking Fire Information, Phone Numbers
- April 25, 2002: Firefighters Get Handle On Bailey Fire
- April 24, 2002: Out Of Control: Bailey Forced To Evacuate
- April 23, 2002: Bailey Wildfire Sends Hundreds Fleeing
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