Lawmakers Move To Compensate Lower North Fork Victims

Residents affected by a wildfire southwest of Denver gave emotional accounts to lawmakers about what they lost and a committee approved a bill to create a commission to pay victims.

Three people died and two dozen homes were damaged from the fire that grew from a state prescribed burn last month.

Republicans sponsoring the measure say the state should pay, but Republican Attorney General John Suthers’ office says it would set an unfair precedent.

A House committee approved the bill Monday on an 8-3 vote.

For decades, the state has had a $600,000 liability cap.

Suthers and Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper’s office say that protects the state from paying unlimited amounts in claims.

The fire caused at least $11 million in property damage.

Hicknelooper’s office says all but possibly two of the damaged homes are insured.