The arrested suspect, who already has two serious strikes under his name, assisted in the torching of over 120,000 acres.
The Burning State
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The wildfire that is currently scorching up over 120,000 acres in California has become the state’s largest one this season.
However, this one is thought to be caused by a man, and it was no accident.
Who’s Responsible?
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According to Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey, the suspected arsonist, 42-year-old Ronnie Dean Stout II, was arrested around 2 a.m. on Thursday at a mobile home park in Chico, California.
Clearing the Area
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The blaze, now called the Park Fire, rapidly evolved by Thursday afternoon, leading to the Butte County Sheriff’s Department issuing evacuation orders for various rural communities.
Residents on the Run
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This included almost the whole town of Cohasset which has a population count of about 287.
A church in Chico, about 15 miles south, has offered shelter for evacuated residents.
Giving All They’ve Got
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Over 1,100 firefighters are currently fighting off the flames. Helicopters and bulldozers are also being used to keep the fire away from the densely populated areas of north Chico.
But the triple-digit temperatures and strong gusts of wind aren’t helping to contain the blaze in any way.
How’d He Do It?
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As per Ramsey’s statement, Stout was arrested after witnesses saw him “pushing a car that was on fire into a gully near the Alligator Hole in upper Bidwell Park shortly before 3:00 p.m. yesterday (Wednesday).”
No Accident
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“The car went down an embankment approximately 60 feet and burned completely, spreading flames that caused the Park Fire,” Ramsey added.
Blazing Butte County
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As the flames spread to almost 40,000 acres overnight, mandatory evacuations in Butte County ensued.
Butte County is also where California’s deadliest wildfire, called the Camp Fire, killed over 80 people in 2018.
Trying to Hide?
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According to the DA, Stout was seen “calmly leaving the area by blending in with the other citizens who were in the area and fleeing the rapidly evolving fire.”
3rd Time’s the Charm?
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Under California’s “Three Strikes and You’re Out” law, it’s possible that Stout might face a life sentence if he’s convicted for this arson act.
That’s because he already has two prior convictions for “serious or violent” crimes as determined by the California Penal Code.
A Bad Guy
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One is for a 2001 conviction in Butte County for lewd acts involving a child younger than 14 years.
The other is for a Kern County robbery in 2002 with great bodily injury, as per the DA.
A Worrisome Weekend
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Although prison records weren’t immediately available, CNN did contact the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for more information.
It was found that Stout is currently being held without a chance of bail. According to the DA’s office, his prosecution has been set for Monday.
Who Knows?
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As Ramsey said, it’s likely that Stout will face an arson charge. But it’s still unclear what count or if any enhancements will be added to his case.
One Lucky Lawyer
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According to what the DA’s office told CNN, the suspect, who has not retained any legal aid, will be assigned a public defender.
Growing Quickly
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Since the fire erupted on Wednesday afternoon, it has damaged an average of about 50 football fields per minute by Thursday morning.
At the moment, the fire is just 3% contained, but officials are working to avoid the blaze spreading any further.
Life-Threatening Circumstances
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Along with temperatures climbing up to 110 degrees, the region’s dry vegetation, which hasn’t burned in more than 2 decades, is actively fueling the flames, creating even more challenging conditions for firefighters.
Assistance for the State
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California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has provided a grant to help battle the Park Fire.
Properties in Peril
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Confirming the grant, Homeland Security also noted that, at the time of the request, about 1,100 homes were at risk in the towns of Eco, Richardson Springs, and Cohasset – home to about 10,000 people in total.
Not a Closed Case Yet
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Even though Stout has been arrested, investigations regarding the origins of the Park Fire are ongoing.
This event is a sobering reminder about the deadly results of arson and what a terrifying impact it can have not only on the environment, but also communities.
Some Rain Would Help
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Chico’s high temperatures were recorded as 106F on Tuesday and Wednesday and was predicted to exceed 100F on Thursday.
But it would seem that some cooler weather might arrive by the weekend, as highs are expected to drop to about 90.
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