Independent Investigator for Black Forest Wildfire

An independent investigator has been called in to review how Colorado’s most destructive wildfire was handled.

The decision Monday by the Black Forest Fire District follows public squabbling between El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa and Black Forest Fire Chief Bob Harvey after Maketa questioned Harvey’s handling of the Black Forest wildfire. Maketa accused Harvey of misrepresenting the fire department’s response to the fire, which Harvey has denied.

The Black Forest Fire started June 11. It killed two people, destroyed 486 homes and damaged 37 other homes in a residential area northeast of Colorado Springs. The fire charred 24 square miles.