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Trial date expected in Utah’s massive Brian Head wildfire

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Smoke billows into the sky creating huge clouds, as the Brian Head fire continues to burn north of near the southern Utah ski town of Brian Head, Wednesday, June 21, 2017.

St. George • A lawyer for a Utah man charged with accidentally starting a massive wildfire says he will likely get a trial date this year.

Robert Lyman’s attorney tells KUTV that the defense has been in discussion with prosecutors about setting a trial date on misdemeanor charges of reckless burning and burning without a permit.

A judge decided last September that the trial would happen in Provo, saying Lyman wouldn’t be able to get a fair trial in southern Utah.

Andrew Deiss says he expects his client to prevail and demonstrate his actions were not reckless.

Authorities have said the fire was started in June 2017 by weed burning at a cabin in a popular getaway for Las Vegas residents. It destroyed 13 homes and cost nearly $40 million to fight.

The Taylorsville man could face up to a year in jail if convicted on the reckless burning count and six months on a burning without a permit charge.

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By The Associated Press