The husband of Denver District Attorney Beth McCann is facing multiple felony charges for allegedly starting fires over two days in violation of a fire ban in Grand County, Colorado.
Christopher Linsmayer, 68, was charged with 12 counts of felony fourth-degree arson and 12 counts of misdemeanor fourth-degree arson after authorities said he started multiple fires in a subdivision in Kremmling, not far from where the 193,000-acre East Troublesome Fire has been burning.
Authorities were called to Linsmayer's house and found 12 unattended slash fires burning on the property. Due to the weather conditions, firefighters could not get a water truck close enough to extinguish the flames and had to hike to fires.
"Due to weather conditions, Kremmling Fire Department was unable to get a water truck near the burning slash piles or the residence they were surrounding," Sheriff Brett Schroetlin and Undersheriff Wayne Schafer said in a press release. "Multiple firefighters were able to hike in and put the flames out using hand tools, shovels, and utilizing the snow already on the ground."
There was no damage to the property, and nobody was injured by the fires.
McCann's office issued a statement saying that her family was cooperating with authorities.
"This is a very difficult time for her and her family, and they are cooperating fully with the investigation. Because this is an open investigation, I cannot provide details or discuss this incident."
This is not the first time that Linsmayer has been in trouble for starting fires. Last year, he pleaded guilty to two counts of violating the county's ordinance for burning. He was also charged in 2016 after a fire on his property sparked a 10-acre blaze that caused over $100,000 worth of damage. Those charges were dismissed in 2017.
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