The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office has completed its investigation into the Pine Valley fire, which ignited in the 16700 block of Cochise Trail on May 28, 2006.  A fire investigator plans to present the investigation to the First Judicial District Attorney's Office in the coming days.

The fire, which started at 2:10 p.m., consumed 102 acres of grassland and trees, damaged an ATV and triggered the evacuation of two mountain communities before it could be contained the following day.  The fire suppression efforts involved more than 90 firefighters from seven different fire departments and cost nearly $120,000. 

John Carter Rowley from Ft. Collins, started the blaze while burning tree limbs, branches and slash on his property despite a countywide fire ban which went into effect on May 25th.   

Rowley may be cited for:
 4th Degree Arson, a class 2 misdemeanor
 Firing Woods and Prairies, a class 6 felony