Damin Pashilk, a resident of nearby Clearlake, was arrested and booked on multiple counts of arson in connection with the fire and other fires in the area during the previous year, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said.
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A massive Northern California Wildfire, also known as the “Clayton Fire”, has ravaged about 4,000 acres in just two days and has also burned down more than 175 buildings in the area.
On Monday afternoon, Jerry Brown, the Democrat governor of California, declared states of emergency for the Clayton fire and another in San Luis Obispo County, the so-called Chimney fire, allowing local officials to get help from emergency response agencies statewide.
The Clayton Fire has scorched 4,000 acres so far, the Clayton Fire Department said, with 5 percent of it contained.
The wildfire has destroyed at least 175 structures, including 100 homes, and has caused more than $10 million in damages and cost more than $5 million to fight.
A different wildfire in roughly the same region past year killed four people and destroyed more than 1,300 homes.
Large, explosive fires have torn through dried-out or hard-to-reach areas across California this summer, including a stubborn blaze near the picturesque Big Sur coastline that has burned 113 square miles since late July and destroyed almost 60 homes.
But no injuries have been reported.
Authorities charged a man from Clearlake, CA, with 17 counts of arson, including involvement in the latest blaze that started Saturday, called the Clayton Fire.
Wilsey said they saw an ominous smoke plume rising above their home in Lower Lake’s rolling hills before they fled.
In Southern California, forecasters warned of high fire danger due to a heat wave and gusty winds. Wildfires this year have burned more than 220,000 acres, and have been especially bad in the south of the state.
“This county, to be honest with you, has gone through hell”, said Cal Fire Chief Ken Pimlott.
James McCauley looks over the burned-out remains of his residence in the town of Lower Lake, Calif. “The trees are lovely, but when they catch fire, they carry fire”. “There are a lot of people who are down here, down on their luck”.
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In central California, a wildfire near Lake Nacimiento, about 180 miles northwest of Los Angeles, grew to more than 8 square miles. It burned more than 2 square miles and is partially contained.
