Authorities say a 40-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of starting the blaze that destroyed more than 175 homes, business and other structures in a Northern California community.
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Damin Anthony Pashilk, 40, charged with 17 counts of arson in Lake County including the 4,000 acre #ClaytonFire.
Police believe Pashilk started the fire, named “The Clayton Fire”, that destroyed more than 200 homes, businesses and other structures in lower Lake, California. But California Fire Chief Ken Pimlott did say that Pashilk had been under investigation for a year.
The fire is just 5 percent contained, though late Monday fire officials said no other structures were under direct threat.
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.
One of the season’s largest fires so far, the Soberanes blaze, was 60 percent contained by Monday. Ironically, buidlings lost include a Habitat for Humanity office.
James McCauley returned to his home in Lower Lake on Monday and wept as he stood over his prized marijuana plants, which had been destroyed by the pink coating.
In Southern California, residents were readying for a heat wave and gusty winds.
The declaration issued Monday frees up state resources and temporarily sets aside regulations for fighting the fire and the recovery.
That blaze killed four people and destroyed more than 1,300 homes. Wildfires this year have burned more than 220,000 acres, and have been especially bad in the south of the state.
Prosecutor tells jury a German man set almost 50 fires in Los Angeles as revenge for deportation order against mother. However, the cause for two of last year’s three big Lake County wildland blazes already have been determined.
The following areas need to evacuate immediately: areas of Clayton Creek Road, all areas of Morgan Valley Road, North Spruce Grove Road towards Jerusalem Grade Road, and Highway 53 at the Highway 29 junction north to Highway 20. The nearby community of Clear Lake was also evacuated.
Despite getting some rain last winter and spring, Lake County is tinder dry.
Residents have a new view of the wild beauty they’ve always admired. That fire broke out on Saturday evening.
“Everybody is just on edge”, he said. “The trees are lovely, but when they catch fire, they carry fire”.
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Firefighters were able to douse the fires before they blossomed into full-fledged wildfires.
