The Cañon City Royal Gorge Railroad has agreed to pay US$300,000 to the federal government for its costs associated with fighting the 2010 Parkdale Canyon fire, U.S. Attorney John Walsh announced Monday.
 
The June 2010 fire burned more than 600 acres, including 215 acres of public land, and destroyed two private residences in Fremont County.
 
The federal government alleges the scenic railroad's train triggered the fire because it lacked functioning spark arresters and brake shoes.
 
"When wildfires burn federal land it costs the taxpayers a substantial sum of money to suppress the fires", Walsh said in a statement announcing the settlement.
 
"It is important that the U.S. Attorney's Office, working closely with the affected federal agencies, recover as much money as possible from those responsible to pay for suppressing the fire."
 
The railroad denied any liability or wrongdoing associated with the fire.
 
It is slated to end operations at the end of September.
 
Aldo Svaldi.