A Chico, California man was arrested Thursday after allegedly setting his car on fire and driving it down a 60-foot embankment, sparking a fire that has burned about 75,000 acres of land, authorities said.
The Butte County District Attorney’s Office said arson investigators from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) arrested a 42-year-old man on suspicion of starting the blaze, known as the Park Fire.
Investigation revealed that just before 3pm on Wednesday, an unknown man was seen pushing a burning vehicle into a ditch near Alligator Hole in upper Bidwell Park.
Witnesses saw the suspect calmly leave the scene, blending in with other residents at the scene and fleeing the rapidly spreading fire.
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Cal Fire investigators arrested a 42-year-old Chico, California, man on Thursday for allegedly driving a burning car down an embankment, ultimately sparking the Park Fire. (Butte County District Attorney’s Office)
Cal Fire arson investigators quickly responded to the scene and secured the scene before searching for clues that could indicate the identity of the unidentified man.
Through investigation, the man’s identity was identified and, with the assistance of the District Attorney’s Office, a local judge issued an arrest warrant and the man was ultimately arrested.
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The man, whose identity has not been released by authorities, was booked into the Butte County Jail and will be held without bail until his arraignment next Monday.
Cal Fire posted on X on Thursday evening that the Park Fire has grown exponentially since it started on Wednesday.
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“In just a few hours, #ParkFire grew from a 400-acre fire to a 71,000+ acre inferno, burning everything in its path,” the department wrote. “This incident is a reminder to be prepared, including having a fire escape bag ready and planning two escape routes to leave the area.”
