Charges have been filed against two Anchorage residents in relation to the cause of the Sockeye Fire north of Willow last month.
Investigation by the Alaska Division of Forestry and Alaska State Fire Marshal’s Office led to charges filed today against 59-year-old Greg Imig and 42-year-old Amy Dewitt due to their roles in starting the fire.
That 7,220-acre wildfire began on June 14, consumed 55 homes, and damaged 44 other structures.
The agencies’ investigators determined the blaze was caused by an illegal debris burn pile which escaped into forested lands from a recreational cabin site owned by Imig.
The charges against Imig and Dewitt include three counts of reckless endangerment, criminally negligent burning, failure to obtain a burn permit, burning without clearing an area, allowing the spread of fire and leaving a fire unattended.
The reckless endangerment and negligent burning charges are class A misdemeanors punishable by up to a year in jail and a $10,000 fine while the other charges are lesser misdemeanors punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine up to $500.
In addition, individuals responsible for starting a wildfire can be held accountable for up to two times the cost of fighting the fire.
At last report, the Sockeye Fire suppression costs were over $8 million.
