Motley County Attorney considers charges against ATF
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MOTLEY COUNTY, TX (KCBD) - The Motley County Attorney is blasting the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) for sparking a fire Tuesday in the northwestern part of the county. The county is even considering filing charges.
The ATF detonated explosives on private land that they say is leased for research by Texas Tech and Homeland Security. During one explosion a wheat field caught fire and burned 150 acres.
The ATF says it takes complete responsibility, but Motley County Attorney Tom Edwards says the incident is inexcusable. "We have a government that has just refused aid to the state of Texas for all our fire damage throughout the state. Here comes federal agents who start another fire," Edwards said.
Edwards said the investigation is ongoing, but the ATF could faces charges for violating the county's burn ban. That is a Class C Misdemeanor.
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