The cause of the Rogers Fire at Frog Belly Farm has been officially traced back to a slash pile, Boulder County Sheriff's Office officials confirmed Tuesday.
The northeast corner of the property at 5255 Rogers Road had a slash pile that had been burned on Jan. 5, and the remnants coupled with high winds sparked the new fire, Cmdr. Mike Wagner wrote in a previously released statement.
The fire sparked by high winds more than a month later on Feb. 10 burned 24 acres Tipobet on the farm, destroying 10 outbuildings and killing 28 animals.
Fire management officer Jay Stalnaker explained that the slash pile was determined to be an agricultural burn, which is allowed all year without a permit and without snow cover, according to Boulder County's quick open burning guide.
"It is exempt from all permitting and restrictions, per state law," Stalnaker said.
The guide shows that slash piles are allowed all year above 6,400-feet elevation if there are 5 inches of snow and between March 1 and Oct. 31 at or below 6,400 feet.
But Wagner said Tuesday it was not a criminal fire "because they took all reasonable precautions."
Amelia Arvesen: 303-684-5212, arvesena@times-call.com or twitter.com/ameliaarvesen
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