Men accused of starting Cold Springs Fire sentenced to work release, probation, restitution

BOULDER COUNTY, Colo. – The two men who pleaded guilty to arson charges for starting the Cold Springs Fire, which destroyed eight homes in the Nederland area in July, will have to pay restitution and serve work release time.

Jimmy Suggs and Zackary Kuykendall, both originally from Vinemont, Alabama, will have to serve two years of work release and four years of probation, in addition to the restitution.

The amount the two will have to pay for starting the fire will be determined in the next 90 days.

Both pleaded guilty to fourth-degree arson charges in November. The fire, which started on a windy day in July, eventually burned around 500 acres and eight homes. At least 1,000 others people were evacuated because of the fire.

Suggs, Kuykendall and a woman named Elizabeth Burdeshaw were camping in the area at the time and failed to put their campfire out all the way before leaving.

Burdeshaw pleaded guilty earlier this year to trespassing charges and was sentenced to three years of probation. Prosecutors said there was no evidence to prove she had anything to do with the campfire.

Both Suggs and Kuykendall were arrested near the evacuation site people were sent to because of the fire.