DA: No Criminal Charges for Man Who Started Morgan Fire

The Contra Costa County District Attorney said Wednesday that the man who started the Morgan Fire won’t face criminal charges for his role in the blaze that scorched 3,111 acres on Mount Diablo in early September.

Investigators believe the fire started after a man shooting targets with a rifle on family-owned property fired at a rock, sending sparks into dry brush near Morgan Territory Road. The man tried to extinguish the fire himself and called for help when he failed, according to a statement from the District Attorney.

Crews had the fire under control 30 minutes after the first 911 call on the afternoon of Sept. 8, but a spot fire 1,000 feet from the original blaze quickly grew out of control. The Morgan Fire took hundreds of firefighters from several departments six days to contain. At its peak, the fire forced the evacuation of 75 homes. 

Here’s the entire statement from the DA:

District Attorney Mark A. Peterson announced today that his office has completed a thorough examination of all of the evidence gathered in the investigation of the 3100 acre Morgan fire that started on September 8, 2013 and burned for several days before being fully contained and extinguished. This included reviewing a report prepared by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection regarding the fire.

The evidence indicates that at approximately 1:00 p.m. on September 8, 2013 an individual was on his family owned property located on Morgan Territory Road in an unincorporated area of Clayton. On the private property was an area that was designed and used as a rifle range. On September 8, the individual was target practicing with a rifle at this range, which he had done previously on numerous occasions. While target practicing, one of the steel projectiles fired by the shooter impacted against a rock, caused a spark, and started a fire in an area of dry grass. Immediately upon seeing the flames, the individual attempted to extinguish the fire but was unable to do so. He contacted a family member who called 911. When fire personnel responded, the individual was cooperative with them and assisted them in their efforts.

Within 30 minutes of the 911 call, fire personnel had arrived and had the fire contained to ½ of an acre. Unfortunately, as the fire was being “mopped up,” a “spot fire” from the original fire started about 1,000 feet away from the original fire, causing a second fire which grew out of control and eventually consumed 3,100 acres.

There is no evidence the fire was intentionally started. There is no evidence that the use of the involved rifle or ammunition in that area was in violation of state law. There is no evidence that this particular phenomenon had occurred before in that area, or with this particular individual. There is little evidence that someone would know or should know that a discharged projectile would or could cause a fire in this way.

We are fully aware of the tremendous harm to property and the environment caused by the fire; however, in the final analysis, the key legal question is whether it was reasonably foreseeable that discharging a firearm in this area under these circumstances would cause a fire. Given the sheer number of times firearms have been discharged in this area and in similar areas throughout the state without causing a fire, it is the determination of this office that no criminal liability can be attached to the cause and origin of this fire. Therefore, under the law, this office will not be filing any criminal charges regarding the fire.