$25 MILLION

A prescribed burn jumped its unmanned control burn lines as a consequence of forecasted high winds pushing down slope into a residential area where it destroyed 23 homes and 17 outbuildings before it could be contained. The jury found defendants to be grossly negligent for their misconduct. The impact of this wildland fire was catastrophic upon the nearby residents. The $25 Million Dollars in damages compensated the victims for the burned down homes, damages to vegetation and timber, outbuildings, grazing lands, barns, machinery, stacked hay, cow/calf operations, and most notably, many residents escaped with nothing but their night clothes and watched as 50-60 years of lifetime memories were turned to ash.