Charges filed against man who admitted to starting Skipper Island Fire

A homeless man faces five misdemeanor charges for starting the Skipper Island fire April 18 that he admitted having started in an interview with us after the fire started.

Michael Mewborn, 60, has been charged with one count of Firing Woods or Prairie, one count of Damage to Division of Wildlife Property, and three counts of Improper Use of Division of Wildlife Property.

The wildfire burned for parts of three days in April in the Horsethief Canyon State Wildlife Area near Fruita, destroying more than 200 acres of trees and grass. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has temporarily closed the burned area.

Mewborn told us the next day he was camping in the area and burning toilet paper and stopped paying attention to the fire.

Mewborn has been issued a summons and will appear in court June 6.