A California man has been arrested in connection with the massive Parkland Fire that has ravaged Northern California after he allegedly drove a burning car into a valley that sparked a massive wildfire that has already burned more than 164,000 acres.
Authorities said suspect Ronnie Dean Stout II, 42, was arrested around 2 a.m. Thursday at a mobile home park in Chico.
The Park Fire tripled in size on its second day.
Stout will be held without bail until his arraignment on Monday.
Butte County District Attorney Michael L. Ramsey said: statement Stout will likely be charged with arson, but it’s unclear how many charges he will face or whether they will be aggravated.
Prosecutors said Stout has two previous convictions for felony strike offenses.
KOVR-TV According to reports, Stout was convicted in Butte County in 2001 of lewd acts with a child under the age of 14. The following year, he was convicted in Kern County of robbery resulting in serious injury and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
In California, an individual who has been convicted twice of a violent crime or felony is “Significantly“If you are convicted of a third felony, your prison sentence will be longer.”
Ramsey said Stout pushed the burning car into a ditch near Alligator Hole in upper Bidwell Park shortly before 3 p.m. Wednesday.
The district attorney said the burning car sparked a wildfire now known as the “Park Fire.”
“The vehicle fell approximately 60 feet down the bank and was completely burned, causing the flames to spread and spark the Park Fire,” Ramsey said.
“The man was then seen calmly leaving the area, blending in with other residents in the area and fleeing the rapidly spreading fire,” Ramsey said.
The Park Fire originated about 90 miles north of Sacramento. The fire has ravaged parts of Butte and Tehama counties, and evacuation orders have been issued in both counties. Evacuation orders have been issued for about 4,000 residents in unincorporated areas of Butte County and 400 residents in Chico, Butte County Sheriff Corey Honea said at a press conference Thursday.
The Park Fire tripled in size on its second day and burned more than 164,000 acres (about 256 square miles).
Recent Cal Fire reportThe blaze, which destroyed 134 structures, was only 3 percent contained as of Friday morning, Cal Fire said. Said.
More than 1,600 firefighters, 142 fire engines and six helicopters were deployed to extinguish the Park Fire.
“The Park Fire is burning very actively today due to hot, dry weather in the region,” Cal Fire said in a statement.
“Due to dry fuels, hot weather, low humidity and wind, the fire quickly began to outpace fire resources,” Butte County Fire Chief Garrett Shorland said.
The fast-growing blaze has become California’s largest wildfire this year and the largest since the 2021 Calder Fire. KCRA Television report.
Also in California, the Lake Fire in Santa Barbara County, which began on July 5, has burned more than 38,000 acres and is said to be 90% contained. Cal Fire.
of Associated Press The fire near the Nevada border prompted evacuation orders on Monday and about 1,000 people were reported to have been evacuated.
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