2 people face charges in Douglas County fire

Charges related to the Topaz Ranch Estates Fire have been filed against two Northern Nevadans.

Kim Carlin and Steven Cozad are scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 27 in the East Fork Township Justice Court on charges of willful or negligent failure to guard or extinguish a fire. The charges are misdemeanors.

Authorities believe the fire was started when an illegal controlled burn was not full extinguished and reignited with wind.

Both were arrested Aug. 2 and have posted bail.

The fire started May 22 in southern Douglas County. Two houses and 17 outbuildings burned in the 7,500 blaze.

 — Lake Tahoe News staff report