It's the largest wildfire in state history. The Wallow Fire burned 840 square miles in eastern Arizona and New Mexico. That's roughly the size of Phoenix and Tucson combined.
But it wasn't just the size of the Wallow Fire that made it so devastating. More than 60 buildings -- half of them homes -- were destroyed.
The fire was sparked by a campfire that wasn't fully extinguished -- a mistake that a pair of cousins will now pay for for the rest of their lives.
The cousins that started the fire, Caleb and David Malboeuf, have been ordered to pay back $3.7 million. The total cost to fight the Wallow Fire was $79 million.
For Caleb that means paying $500 a month for the rest of his life. David will have to pay $250 a month until 2016, when the payments increase to $500.
These two cousins grew up with knowledge of the wilderness. They were expert campers. But a momentary lapse led to a gigantic fire that will haunt them as long as they live.
"This was not an intentional and reckless act, it was just a real personal disaster based on some pretty tough individual circumstances," says David Derickson, attorney for Caleb Malboeuf.
The inferno began after the Malboeufs started a campfire to heat water to make some oatmeal. They failed to put the fire out completely. The winds kicked up.
The flames devoured 538,000 acres of forest and narrowly missed -- by two miles -- the famous Hannagan Meadow Lodge.
"Because of the wind, it was fifty mile an hour wind, so we had embers out three miles ahead of the fire, blowing out into the meadow," says Larry Innes, owner of Hannagan Meadow Lodge.
The restitution payments begin January 15th. The bottom line: if you light a campfire, put it out completely.
"It just goes to show how one small careless act can lead to huge devastating consequences for a lot of folks involved," says David Albo of Tonto National Forest.
The Malbouef cousins also had to spend two days in jail and were given community service for touching off the Wallow Fire.
Sunday, May 19 2013 12:05 AM EDT2013-05-19 04:05:15 GMT
Authorities say one person is dead and another was injured when the vehicle they were in ran off the road and crashed into Huntington harbor on Long Island Saturday evening.
Authorities say one person is dead and another was injured when the vehicle they were in ran off the road and crashed into Huntington harbor on Long Island Saturday evening.
Saturday, May 18 2013 11:41 PM EDT2013-05-19 03:41:32 GMT
The NYPD says a 14-year-old girl was shot and killed on a Queens MTA bus Saturday night. The incident happened around 8:50 p.m. on board the Q-6 bus on Sutphin Avenue and Rockaway Boulevard
The NYPD says a 14-year-old girl was shot and killed on a Queens MTA bus Saturday night. The incident happened around 8:50 p.m. on board the Q-6 bus on Sutphin Avenue and Rockaway Boulevard
Saturday, May 18 2013 11:33 PM EDT2013-05-19 03:33:31 GMT
The winning numbers in a near-historic Powerball jackpot were announced Saturday night. The numbers drawn Saturday are: 22, 10, 13, 14, 52 and a Powerball of 11.
The winning numbers in a near-historic Powerball jackpot were announced Saturday night. The numbers drawn Saturday are: 22, 10, 13, 14, 52 and a Powerball of 11.
Saturday, May 18 2013 10:14 PM EDT2013-05-19 02:14:35 GMT
An airline official says a US Airways flight with 34 people aboard was forced to make a belly landing at Newark International Airport after experiencing landing gear trouble. No injuries were reported.
An airline official says a US Airways flight with 34 people aboard was forced to make a belly landing at Newark International Airport after experiencing landing gear trouble. No injuries were reported.
Saturday, May 18 2013 8:33 PM EDT2013-05-19 00:33:09 GMT
A 12-year-old boy was shot and killed and his father was wounded on a Jersey City street Friday night. Police say Gywan Levine Jr. and his father, Gywan Levine Sr., were walking on Rutgers Avenue
A 12-year-old boy was shot and killed and his father was wounded on a Jersey City street Friday night. Police say Gywan Levine Jr. and his father, Gywan Levine Sr., were walking on Rutgers Avenue
Saturday, May 18 2013 6:52 PM EDT2013-05-18 22:52:45 GMT
A large crowd of supporters in the Bronx joined the parents of a slain teen to protest a judge's ruling Saturday. Constance Malcolm and Francelot Graham whose son Ramarley was killed back in February
A large crowd of supporters in the Bronx joined the parents of a slain teen to protest a judge's ruling Saturday. Constance Malcolm and Francelot Graham whose son Ramarley was killed back in February
Saturday, May 18 2013 4:03 PM EDT2013-05-18 20:03:41 GMT
Officials in Connecticut say it was amazing that there were no fatalities or more injuries after two Metro-North trains collided around 6 p.m. in Fairfield Friday evening.
Officials in Connecticut say it was amazing that there were no fatalities or more injuries after two Metro-North trains collided around 6 p.m. in Fairfield Friday evening.
