The Pine Creek Fire near Livingston last summer was started when the metal bucket of an excavator struck a rock as a man was excavating a foundation.

The U.S. Forest Service released the report Monday in response to a Freedom of Information Act request filed by the Livingston Enterprise last month.

The fire began on Aug. 29 about 13 miles south of Livingston, burned about 8,000 acres and destroyed five houses and several outbuildings. The Forest Service says it cost about $4 million to suppress.

The report says the excavator operator used a fire extinguisher and tried to use construction equipment to keep the fire from spreading. The report does not identify the excavator operator or say who called 911, but says there was no criminal activity related to the start of the fire.

(Source:  AP)

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