South Carolina Man Sued Over Wildfire By Homeowner

An Illinois woman whose home in South Carolina was damaged in a wildfire last year has sued the man who was fined for starting a blaze which authorities say rekindled days later.

The Sun News of Myrtle Beach reported that Francis Eaton of Ogle County, Ill., accused Marc Torchi of being negligent and careless in a lawsuit filed last week in Conway.

State forestry officials say a wildfire last April that destroyed or damaged nearly 200 homes began after Torchi’s backyard trash fire got out of control. Firefighters thought they put it out, but it rekindled four days later into a blaze that burned nearly 30 square miles.

Torchi’s attorney, Paul Taylor, didn’t immediately return a message, but said last year Torchi shouldn’t be held responsible for the large wildfire.