Nathaniel Bartholomew will find out in March if he will go to prison for purposefully igniting a wildfire this past summer that destroyed one home and threatened more than 100 others near the Wilderness Ranch subdivision.

Batholomew, 19, a member of the Clear Creek volunteer fire department who lives in the Robie Creek area, pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of felony third-degree arson — a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Fourth District Judge Pat Owen set sentencing for March 14 at the Boise County courthouse. There is no plea agreement or recommendation for a sentence with Boise County prosecutors.

The Karney Fire started Sept. 17 about five miles north of Idaho 21 along Robie Creek Road east of Boise. By the time firefighters contained the blaze several days later, 440 acres had burned.

Boise County sheriff’s officials said last fall Bartholomew might have set the fire to get the attention of his father, also a firefighter. Chief Deputy Dale Rogers said Bartholomew told investigators that working with his dad on fires was a bonding experience.

It is unclear how much financial restitution prosecutors will seek from Bartholomew. The final costs for fighting the Karney Fire were just under $2.3 million, according to Idaho Department of Lands reports.

Patrick Orr: 377-6219, Twitter: @IDS_Orr