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Hunting Outfitter pays $500K to resolve allegations in Ouray County fire

OURAY COUNTY, Colo. (KREX) — A hunting outfitter agreed to pay half a million dollars to resolve allegations that it's liable for igniting a wildland fire. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado announced Wednesday that Jackson Outfitters, LLC, – out of Placerville – will pay $500,000 concerning the Cow Creek Fire which burned 850 acres on the Uncompahgre National Forest in Ouray County in October 2019. Jackson Outfitters is not admitting liability in the fire but agreeing to settle this matter, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a news release. The fire was allegedly started by a wood-burning stove inside a wall tent in the Green Mountain Camp – owned and operated by Cow Creek Outfitters, an affiliate of Jackson Outfitters. When the incident occurred, the camp was occupied by a party that booked a self-guided elk hunt through Cow Creek Outfitters, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Embers – that allegedly left the stovepipe attached to the wood-burning stove – landed on the ground and ignited dry vegetation. The U.S. Attorney's Office said. The wood-burning stove also allegedly did not have a functional, properly installed spark arrestor. 'Outfitters must ensure that the equipment they use in national forests is safe and protects public lands for all of us,' acting U.S. Attorney J. Bishop Grewell said in the release. 'We appreciate that this resolution was cooperative and reimburses the United States for costs incurred in fighting the fire.' Jackson Outfitters operates in the national forest under a special use permit that says the business has a duty to protect U.S. land and property from damage which includes fire suppression costs. The U.S. suffered 'significant' costs fighting the blaze, the attorney's office said. The matter was investigated by U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.