Investigators say fire accidental

Friday, Sept. 24, 1999 | 1:06 a.m.

"We suspect it was not maliciousness but stupidity," Bureau of Land Management Fire Management Officer Leonard Wehking said on Thursday. He added that investigators believe juveniles are responsible for the fire.

Wehking said BLM investigators have the names of several suspects but no charges have been filed.

"It's going slow, we have a lot of cases to work on," he said.

Wehking said a $1,000 reward may have helped bring out the information.

The fire began in the late afternoon above Sutro Terrace in northern Carson City. Local fire crews nearly had it under control when erratic winds fanned the blaze, causing the fire to sweep over Duck Hill and into south Washoe Valley.

Residents of five homes and about 20 campers at Washoe Lake State Park campground where evacuated until crews got a handle on the fire about 9 p.m. that night.

No structures were damaged and no one was injured, but the cost of extinguishing the fire exceeds $100,000, Wehking said, so investigators will continue to pursue suspects and try to recoup costs.

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