About 82,500 people from some 34,500 homes were under mandatory evacuation orders, San Bernardino County fire spokesman Eric Sherwin said. On Saturday night, the fire reached the community of Lower Lake, forcing hundreds of residents to leave.
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Damin Anthony Pashilk, 40, faces 17 counts of arson, Lake County Sheriff Brian Martin said during a community meeting at a casino that is serving as an evacuation centre for some of the 4,000 people driven from their homes by the so-called Clayton Fire.
The blaze was one of 11 large wildfires burning in California, where high temperatures combined with parched conditions brought on by a five-year drought raised the fire danger.
The Chimney fire was just 10% contained by Monday evening. Mike McGuire about last year’s wildfire.
Almost a decade ago, Pashilk was an inmate firefighter while serving time on drug possession and firearms charges, according to California corrections department spokeswoman Vicky Waters.
The 4,000-acre Clayton fire – which authorities said late Monday was arson – spread with frightening speed through the small town of Lower Lake on the southern edge of Clear Lake, ravaging Main Street and wiping out much of its small commercial district. “The winery burned – places I’ve known for many years and knew the people who owned these places”, said another resident.
“A lot of people want to hang him high”, his wife, Jennie, added. Tragically, the Habitat for Humanity office was working to raise money to help rebuild homes destroyed by a devastating wildfire that killed four people and destroyed more than 1,300 homes almost a year ago.
The town was near the site where the fire began. “My thoughts continue to be with the people of Lake County during this hard time”, said California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Director Ken Pimlott.
“Arson investigations are complex and hard”. “They have to build a case that is going to be successful, it’s complex”.
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An attorney listed as representing Pashilk did not return a call requesting comment. It was 20 percent contained. Right now, there are no other immediate threats to structures.
