Yuma man convicted for starting the Crown King forest fire two years ago
July 14, 2010 12:18 PM
A Yuma man has been sentenced to five years of supervised probation and is prohibited from entering any U.S. forest, park or wilderness area unless accompanied by a responsible adult after being convicted of leaving a fire unattended and unextinguished.
David Alexander Cygan, 52, was also ordered to perform 150 hours of community service as part of his July 12 sentence, which was in connection to the “Crown King” fire in June of 2008, according to a press statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Cygan was also found guilty of unauthorized possession of a badge belonging to the National Park Service.
On June 28, 2008 a search and rescue was initiated by the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office to locate overdue hikers observed a man lighting signal fires in the general search area, according to the statement. Upon the crews' return the next morning, the signal fires had engulfed an entire tree.
Due to the hot and dry weather conditions the fire eventually grew out of control, burning 9,629 acres of forest land and causing the evacuation of the town of Crown King, according to the statement.
The estimated cost of fighting the fire was $5.7 million.
When contacted, Cygan explained that he had offered help to a woman who had reported her boyfriend and children missing near Crown King. Cygan had said that after he located the missing hikers, he went in search of additional help. He saw a Department of Public Safety helicopter and set a signal fire.
Even though he knew he had been found, as well as the missing hikers, Cygan said he pressed on to a cabin he had seen down the mountain. After becoming lost in the darkness, Cygan said he lit a warming fire. He added that he found the cabin with the assistance of a DPS helicopter search light.
Cygan said he left the fire, which he believed he had extinguished, as he went toward a cabin for water. However, a later investigation determined that there had been no attempt to put the fire out, according to the press statement. Upon his return, Cygan said he was unable to suppress the fire.
Earlier he had displayed a badge from his days with the National Park Service (NPS) to the mother of the missing hikers, as well as to a Forest Service investigator.
Cygan, however, had been fired from the National Park Service in 2007 and was no longer authorized to possess the badge.
The investigation in this case was conducted by Arizona Department of Public Safety, the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office and the United States Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations. The prosecution was conducted by Vincent Q. Kirby, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854.
David Alexander Cygan, 52, was also ordered to perform 150 hours of community service as part of his July 12 sentence, which was in connection to the “Crown King” fire in June of 2008, according to a press statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Cygan was also found guilty of unauthorized possession of a badge belonging to the National Park Service.
On June 28, 2008 a search and rescue was initiated by the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office to locate overdue hikers observed a man lighting signal fires in the general search area, according to the statement. Upon the crews' return the next morning, the signal fires had engulfed an entire tree.
Due to the hot and dry weather conditions the fire eventually grew out of control, burning 9,629 acres of forest land and causing the evacuation of the town of Crown King, according to the statement.
The estimated cost of fighting the fire was $5.7 million.
When contacted, Cygan explained that he had offered help to a woman who had reported her boyfriend and children missing near Crown King. Cygan had said that after he located the missing hikers, he went in search of additional help. He saw a Department of Public Safety helicopter and set a signal fire.
Even though he knew he had been found, as well as the missing hikers, Cygan said he pressed on to a cabin he had seen down the mountain. After becoming lost in the darkness, Cygan said he lit a warming fire. He added that he found the cabin with the assistance of a DPS helicopter search light.
Cygan said he left the fire, which he believed he had extinguished, as he went toward a cabin for water. However, a later investigation determined that there had been no attempt to put the fire out, according to the press statement. Upon his return, Cygan said he was unable to suppress the fire.
Earlier he had displayed a badge from his days with the National Park Service (NPS) to the mother of the missing hikers, as well as to a Forest Service investigator.
Cygan, however, had been fired from the National Park Service in 2007 and was no longer authorized to possess the badge.
The investigation in this case was conducted by Arizona Department of Public Safety, the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office and the United States Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations. The prosecution was conducted by Vincent Q. Kirby, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854.
