Father and son arrested on suspicion of starting California wildfire

[turbinetree]

Pair accused of reckless arson in warrant over Caldor fire, which destroyed over 1,000 homes and buildings

A father and son were arrested on suspicion of starting a large California wildfire that destroyed many houses and forced tens of thousands of people to flee Lake Tahoe communities earlier this year, authorities said.

Authorities accused David Scott Smith, 66, and his son, Travis Shane Smith, 32, on Wednesday of reckless arson in a warrant issued before formal charges are filed, the El Dorado county district attorney’s office said.

Mark Reichel, the attorney for both men, said they were arrested Wednesday afternoon and that reckless arson means starting a blaze by accident but “to such a degree that it was considered reckless”.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/dec/09/california-caldor-fire-father-son-arrested

[msfiddlestix]

1. starting a fire by accident. what was the nature of the accident?

were they barbecuing? burning brush? what was the activity that started it I wonder?

[ProudMNDemocrat]

2. On the way to Lske Tahoe on 1-50....

I saw scores of trees blackened by the fires. Cabins burned down as logging crews were working to clear areas of dead trees. Traffic lanes were slowed down to a crawl and stop along the way. Such devastating scenes.

[FirstLight]

3. I live in South Lake... it was horrific

They didnt say exactly what they were doing, but most of us locals are speculating it was either an OHV or shooting guns illegally.

I'd PAY money to be in that courtroom. A lot of us locals are wishing we could tar & feather them...

The day we evacuated, I had literal CHUNKS of burned bark and stuff falling on my deck...and it was STILL WARM ...scary AF. It also cost over $1000 in hotels, living in one room with the pets and teenager for 10+days was not fun.

Here's the local paper link...the comments are fun to read.
https://www.tahoedailytribune.com/news/father-son-arrested-accused-of-arson-in-starting-caldor-fire/