A Florida man has been charged nearly $60,000 to cover the cost of putting out a 705-acre (285-hectare) wildfire that officials say he caused while burning old paperbacks and clutter. The Florida Times-Union reports that the Florida Forest Service sent 55-year-old Brian Sparks a bill Monday to pay for the personnel and machinery used to extinguish the blaze. Officials say Sparks had been burning old paperback books and clutter outside his Bryceville home in March when the flames got out of control. Fire crews from Nassau and neighboring counties joined with forestry workers to contain and extinguish the blaze over several days. ———Information from: The (Jacksonville) Florida Times-Union, http://www.jacksonville.com

Source: ABC News August 30, 2017 11:14 UTC