RENO -- An "extremely remorseful" man admitted Friday that he accidentally started a brush fire that destroyed 29 homes near Reno when he improperly discarded fireplace ashes at his home south of town, authorities said.
"He came forward on his own accord," Reno Fire Chief Michael Hernandez said about the man. The blaze, fueled by 82 mph wind gusts, burned nearly 3,200 acres and forced the evacuation of up to 10,000 people Thursday.
"He has given statements to our investigators as well as law enforcement officers. He is extremely remorseful," the chief said.
Investigators had tracked the origin of the fire to a location in East Lake on the north end of the Washoe Valley, where the man lives about 20 miles south of downtown Reno.
Washoe County Sheriff Mike Haley said a formal case file will be forwarded to the district attorney next week for consideration of charges.
"The DA will have to give this case a lot of deliberation," Haley said.
"The fact he came forward and admitted it plays a role. But so does the massive damage and loss of life," he said. "It's a balancing act."
In addition to the potential for facing jail time on arson charges, the man could be ordered to pay the cost of fighting the fire, which already totals $690,000.
The fire was fanned by strong winds and an exceedingly dry winter in Nevada, but a break in gusts overnight aided firefighters working to stamp out the blaze.
"The weather helped, but also the crews working helped speed things along," Regan said.
Meanwhile, a man whom authorities described as "remorseful" came forward Friday and told officials he improperly disposed of fireplace ashes, potentially sparking the fast-moving brush fire.
"An elderly male came forward in regards to improperly disposing of fireplace ashes," Washoe County Sheriff's Office spokesman J. Armando Avina said in an email to NewsCore.
"This is still [an] ongoing investigation and once it's [completed] it will be forwarded to the Washoe County District Attorney's Office for review."
Fire officials said one person died during the blaze. According to the Reno Gazette-Journal, the woman was believed to have suffocated.
Twenty-nine homes were destroyed and 3,177 acres were charred, the newspaper reported. US 395, a major north-south highway in the western US, reopened late Friday.
Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, who on Thursday made a state declaration of emergency which qualifies local governments for federal assistance, said Friday that the damage caused by the fire was "horrendous" and thanked emergency service staff for their work.
"He came forward on his own accord," Reno Fire Chief Michael Hernandez said about the man. The blaze, fueled by 82 mph wind gusts, burned nearly 3,200 acres and forced the evacuation of up to 10,000 people Thursday.
"He has given statements to our investigators as well as law enforcement officers. He is extremely remorseful," the chief said.
Investigators had tracked the origin of the fire to a location in East Lake on the north end of the Washoe Valley, where the man lives about 20 miles south of downtown Reno.
Washoe County Sheriff Mike Haley said a formal case file will be forwarded to the district attorney next week for consideration of charges.
"The DA will have to give this case a lot of deliberation," Haley said.
"The fact he came forward and admitted it plays a role. But so does the massive damage and loss of life," he said. "It's a balancing act."
In addition to the potential for facing jail time on arson charges, the man could be ordered to pay the cost of fighting the fire, which already totals $690,000.
The fire was fanned by strong winds and an exceedingly dry winter in Nevada, but a break in gusts overnight aided firefighters working to stamp out the blaze.
"The weather helped, but also the crews working helped speed things along," Regan said.
Meanwhile, a man whom authorities described as "remorseful" came forward Friday and told officials he improperly disposed of fireplace ashes, potentially sparking the fast-moving brush fire.
"An elderly male came forward in regards to improperly disposing of fireplace ashes," Washoe County Sheriff's Office spokesman J. Armando Avina said in an email to NewsCore.
"This is still [an] ongoing investigation and once it's [completed] it will be forwarded to the Washoe County District Attorney's Office for review."
Fire officials said one person died during the blaze. According to the Reno Gazette-Journal, the woman was believed to have suffocated.
Twenty-nine homes were destroyed and 3,177 acres were charred, the newspaper reported. US 395, a major north-south highway in the western US, reopened late Friday.
Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, who on Thursday made a state declaration of emergency which qualifies local governments for federal assistance, said Friday that the damage caused by the fire was "horrendous" and thanked emergency service staff for their work.
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