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 center for some of the 4,000 people driven from their homes by the so-called Clayton Fire. Pimlott would not discuss the other fires, he would only say some of the arson charges were related to the Clayton Fire.
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“The fire activity could change in a moment’s notice right now”, said Suzie Blankenship, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
That blaze was only 10 per cent contained as of Monday morning.
Now, its website asks for donations to rebuild its own space: “Habitat Lake County desperately needs new office space, and donations of money and buildable lots are urgently needed to help rebuild homes destroyed in the fires of both last year and this year”, the site says. The blaze shifted north toward the lake, leading authorities to evacuate some residents by boat. State and Local law enforcement officers work diligently in arson cases to aggressively investigate and prosecute those suspected of intentionally starting fires.
Cal Fire said the fire has scorched 3,000 acres (4.69 square miles) and is five percent contained. He said many homes were damaged or lost. The 18-year-old took his life last year.
Over 100 homes were destroyed in the town with working-class families and retirees drawn by a slower lifestyle and lower housing prices compared with the San Francisco Bay Area, a more than two-hour drive away.
The fire was throwing embers and spreading rapidly because of parched conditions brought on by the state’s historic drought, officials said. Temperatures reached triple digits in numerous places, stoking an increased risk of wildfires across the mountains of Ventura and Los Angeles counties through at least Wednesday, the National Weather Service said. No injuries have been reported, but pets have died as flames swept into Lower Lake, a small town about 90 miles north of San Francisco.
Thousands of people fled the area – some after ensuring their goats and chickens were safe. CAL FIRE reports 1,500 structures are still threatened.
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As winds abated on Sunday evening, crews made progress cutting containment lines around the flames and putting out hot spots, said Daniel Berlant of the California forestry department.
