Citation Issued to Fort Collins Man for Starting Hewlitt Gulch Fire!

In the last half hour we have learned that there has been a citation issued to a Fort Collins man for starting the fire while conducting a burn without a permit.

It is being reported this afternoon that the U.S. Forest Service has issued a citation to Fort Collins resident James J. Weber. Weber is accused of burning brush or grass without a permit. He faces a 300 hundred dollar fine and a 25 dollar processing fee.The Forest Service will likely seek restitution for the cost of fighting the fire.

Over 500 firefighters are at the blaze, it has burned over 7 thousand acres and as of this afternoon is 11% contained.

The mandatory evacuation for the 15 homes along Highway 14 from the Greyrock Trailhead to the North Poudre diversion dam (approximately mile markers 113 to 115) is still in effect. Highway 14 remain closed from Ted's Place to Stove Prairie. An evacuation center is still open at Cache La Poudre Middle School.If evacuated residents have large animals, they can take them to The Ranch off of Interstate 25. Small animals may be taken to the Larimer Humane Society off of Trilby and College in Fort Collins.

The fire has been burning since around 1 Monday afternoon.