Person who caused big Wyoming wildfire could be told to pay

The person who caused a wildfire that destroyed a home and threatened several others east of Yellowstone National Park could be ordered to pay millions to cover firefighting costs.

The fire last year burned more than 19 square miles of rugged terrain 40 miles east of Yellowstone.

Federal officials say they are still investigating the fire. They haven’t publicly identified the person they say accidentally caused the blaze with sparks from a metal grinder.

U.S. Bureau of Land Management spokeswoman Sarah Beckwith tells the Powell Tribune the federal agency seeks to recoup the cost of wildfires caused by people.

Beckwith says the fire cost the BLM roughly $1.4 million and several agencies were involved in fighting the fire.