Man accused of sparking massive California wildfire by pushing fiery car into gully; fire already burned 164,000 acres



A California man has been arrested in connection with the huge Park Fire that has ravaged the northern area of the Golden State. The suspect is accused of pushing a fiery car into a gully that sparked the massive wildfire that has already burned over 164,000 acres.

Ronnie Dean Stout II, 42, was arrested around 2 a.m. Thursday at a mobile home park in Chico, authorities said.

The Park Fire tripled in size on its second day.

Stout is being held without bail until his arraignment Monday.

Butte County District Attorney Michael L. Ramsey said in a statement that Stout likely will face an arson charge, although it's unclear how many counts or whether any enhancements will be added.

Stout has two previous strike felony convictions, according to prosecutors.

KOVR-TV reported that Stout was convicted of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14 in Butte County in 2001. The following year, he was convicted in Kern County for robbery with great bodily injury and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

In California, individuals with two prior strikes — convictions of violent or serious felonies — receive a "significantly" longer prison sentence if convicted of a third felony.

Stout pushed a car that was on fire into a gully near the Alligator Hole in upper Bidwell Park shortly before 3 p.m. Wednesday, Ramsey stated.

The DA said the fiery car sparked the wildfire now known as the Park Fire.

"The car went down an embankment approximately 60 feet and burned completely, spreading flames that caused the Park Fire," Ramsey said.

"The male was then seen calmly leaving the area by blending in with the other citizens who were in the area and fleeing the rapidly evolving fire," Ramsey said.

The origin point of the Park Fire is about 90 miles north of Sacramento. The wildfire has devastated the counties of Butte and Tehama where evacuations were ordered. Roughly 4,000 residents in unincorporated areas of Butte County and 400 residents of Chico were ordered to evacuate, Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said at a news conference Thursday.

— (@)

The Park Fire tripled in size on its second day and has scorched more than 164,000 acres — about 256 square miles.

In the most recent Cal Fire report, 134 structures have been destroyed by the fire. Just 3% of the fire has been contained as of Friday morning, Cal Fire said.

Over 1,600 firefighters, 142 fire engines, and six helicopters have been deployed to battle the Park Fire.

"Today the Park Fire burned very actively with hot, dry weather over the region," Cal Fire said.

Butte County Fire Chief Garrett Sjolund said, "The fire quickly began to outpace our resources because of the dry fuels, the hot weather, the low humidities, and the wind."

The fast-growing blaze is now California's largest wildfire this year, and the largest since 2021's Caldor Fire, KCRA-TV reported.

Also in California, the Lake Fire in Santa Barbara County — which started July 5 — has burned over 38,000 acres and is 90% contained, according to Cal Fire.

The Associated Press reported that a fire near the state line with Nevada displaced approximately 1,000 people after evacuations were ordered Monday.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Ex-criminal justice professor accused of going on 'arson-setting spree' near California’s massive Dixie Fire



A former criminal justice professor was arrested Saturday and accused of setting a series of fires in Northern California near the area where the massive Dixie Fire continues to burn.

Gary Stephen Maynard, 47, was charged with "willfully setting fire to any timber, underbrush, or grass upon lands owned by the United States," an affidavit states.

Maynard first garnered the attention of authorities on the morning of July 20, which is when mountain bikers first reported a fire on the western slopes of Mount Shasta, according to court papers.

U.S. Forest Service investigator Brian Murphy responded to the reports of fire and encountered a man, later identified as Maynard, underneath a black Kia Soul, which had its front wheels stuck in a ditch and its undercarriage centered on a boulder, court documents allege.

"Murphy introduced himself as an official with the Forest Service and requested the man's name," court papers read, according to the Sacramento Bee. "This man did not come out from under the vehicle and did not identify himself, but instead stayed under the vehicle and mumbled words that (investigator) Murphy could not understand."

"(Investigator) Murphy advised this man that he would like to ask him a few questions," court papers allege. "The man quit digging and stood up. ... Murphy began to ask questions about the nearby fire to which this man responded that he did not know anything about any fires."

Court papers say Maynard asked Murphy to help tow his vehicle, but when the investigator said he could not assist him, the man became "uncooperative and agitated" and crawled back under the Kia.

"Inv. Murphy recognized the man's uncooperative and agitated behavior and felt it was safest to distance himself from this man," the complaint read.

There was another car parked about 100 feet away from the Kia. The occupant, described in court documents as "Witness 1," told Murphy that he had been there since the day before and interacted with Murphy.

"Witness 1 stated that he had brief interactions with [Maynard] but described concerns about the man's enraged behavior and said that, at one point, the man pulled out a large knife and looked towards Witness 1 for unknown reasons. Witness 1 believed the man was mentally unstable, describing the man as, 'mumbling a lot and having bipolar-like behavior,'" the complaint stated, as reported by Law & Crime.

A second fire ignited the next day on Mount Shasta, and investigators found tire tracks similar to those made by Maynard's Kia, according to court documents.

Authorities investigated Maynard and discovered that someone called police in October 2020 to express "concerns" about the college professor, who was working at Santa Clara University, court papers said.

"This concerned citizen told officers that Maynard had told her he was suffering from anxiety, depression, split personality, and that he wanted to kill himself," according to an affidavit. "This concerned citizen said that Maynard had moved out and was possibly living somewhere out of his vehicle."

Authorities reportedly tracked Maynard through his electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card used for public assistance. Court papers reveal that law enforcement obtained cellphone search warrants and a warrant allowing a vehicle tracker to be placed on Maynard's Kia.

Law enforcement tracked Maynard's movements for hundreds of miles, which included stops in the areas where the Ranch Fire and Conard Fire started on Saturday in the Lassen National Forest, court papers state. Maynard was reportedly arrested Saturday inside the emergency closure area forced by the large Dixie Fire that is burning up 780 square miles.

"He entered the evacuation zone and began setting fires behind the first responders fighting the Dixie Fire," Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Anderson wrote in a detention memo. "In addition to the danger of enlarging the Dixie Fire and threatening more lives and property, this increased the danger to the first responders."

"Maynard was traveling alone through the forest in isolated areas. Agents had installed a tracker on his vehicle. Where Maynard went, fires started. Not just once, but over and over again," federal prosecutors wrote in a bond memo.

"It appeared that Maynard was in the midst of an arson-setting spree," court papers say. However, Maynard is only charged with starting the Ranch Fire.

"Maynard's fires were placed in the perfect position to increase the risk of firefighters being trapped between fires," the court documents say. "But for the dedication and efforts of U.S. Forest Service investigators working around the clock to track Maynard, those fires would not have been discovered in their infancy."

Maynard vehemently denied setting the California fires, according to court papers. When he was booked into the Lassen County Jail, he purportedly "became enraged and began kicking the jail cell door."

Court documents claim Maynard screamed at police officers, "I'm going to kill you, f***ing pig! I told those f***ers I didn't start any of those fires!"

Maynard reportedly had worked at Santa Clara University and Sonoma State University, where he is listed as a lecturer in criminal justice studies specializing in criminal justice, cults, and deviant behavior. Maynard is no longer employed at either school.

Maynard faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

West Coast wildfires continue to rage: At least 36 people dead, nearly 5 million acres torched; smoke cloud reaches East Coast



Raging wildfires are still wrecking havoc along the West Coast, and now there are almost 90 wildfires in nearly a dozen states, the National Interagency Fire Center reported Tuesday.

So far the fires have burned an estimated 4.8 million acres, with a majority of the damage occurring in California, Oregon, Washington, and now Idaho.

According to the NIFC, firefighters have been able to contain six large fires — one in Montana, two in Oregon, and three in California.

The NIFC said that 11 states are currently reporting a total of 87 large fires:

● Arizona (1)
● California (23)
● Colorado (4)
● Idaho (13)
● Montana (9)
● Nevada (1)
● Oregon (12)
● South Dakota (1)
● Utah (6)
● Washington (15)
● Wyoming (2)

Dozens dead, many more missing

As tens of thousands of people continue to be displaced, the casualty count continues to rise.

According to CNN's latest reporting, at least 36 people have been killed in the West Coast wildfires. Of those killed, 25 were in the California fires, 10 in Oregon, and one in Washington.

The Oregon Office of Emergency Management's website said Tuesday that at least 22 people are missing in the state and at least 1,145 homes have been destroyed.

'Dangerous' smoke — and its spreading

The smoke in the region has led IQAir, a group that tracks global air quality, to report that the West Coast currently has the worst air quality in the world, CNN said.

Virtually all of Washington is covered by "unbelievably irritating, downright unhealthy and dangerous" smoke, Gov. Jay Inslee announced.

And in Oregon, USA Today reported, at least 10% of emergency room visits are for asthma-like symptoms.

Now, the growing smoke cloud has reached the Atlantic Ocean.

AccuWeather meteorologist Matt Benz told USA Today that wildfire smoke has finally traveled thousands of miles and reached the East Coast.

According to USA Today, Benz said "you can draw a line from California through St. Louis and on to Norfolk, Virginia — pretty much everyplace north of that line is looking at smoke-tainted skies."

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration posted a map showing just how much smoke is currently covering the U.S.

Image source: NOAA Office of Satellite and Product Operations screenshot

Authorities arrest 2 more suspects on arson charges as West Coast fires rage on



As devastating fires rage across the West Coast, authorities have arrested at least two more people suspected of arson.

Washington troopers arrested Jeffrey Acord, 36, who allegedly attempted to set a fire along SR-167 in Puyallup last Wednesday. An off-duty police sergeant was traveling north on the road when he spotted a Chevrolet pickup truck parked on the shoulder of Route 167. The truck, reportedly driven by Acord, merged back onto the highway as Fife Police Sgt. Kevin approached in his vehicle.

"I soon noticed that there was a small fire starting to grow in the dry grass directly next to the location where the pickup truck had been stopped," Sgt. Kevin said.

Kevin reported the fire and pulled over the truck. When he confronted Acord, the suspect began livestreaming his arrest on Facebook.

"The guy was live streaming (on Facebook) like he found the fire," Trooper Ryan Burke said. "He was trying to make it look like he didn't do it."

The video has since been taken down. Acord was charged with second-degree arson and booked into Puyallup City Jail. He posted bail early the next morning.

Less than two hours after he posted bail, police responded to a break-in at a convenience store three blocks from the police station. Police say they recognized Acord on surveillance video and arrested him again on charges of second-degree burglary for allegedly kicking in a window covered with plywood and stealing drinks and snacks.

In Oregon, deputies arrested 44-year-old Jonathan Maas on suspicion of arson in the first degree. He is accused of attempting to start a fire in the woods near a disc golf course at Dexter State Recreation Area last week.

"The fire was in a wooded area and was approximately 5 feet in diameter before it was extinguished by two people playing frisbee golf in the area," police said. "A man in a minivan was seen leaving the area shortly before the fire was discovered."

The Lane County Sheriff's Office investigated, and Maas was arrested last Thursday.

"While this fire was discovered and extinguished before it grew in size, the potential for the fire to have spread quickly was there," the sheriff's office said. "We are thankful for the community members who spotted and extinguished the fire before it was able to hurt anyone or cause any structure damage."

Last week, authorities arrested four other individuals suspected of starting fires in California, Oregon, and Washington. One suspect, Domingo Lopez Jr., was arrested a second time after allegedly starting six more fires after his initial arrest.

The death toll from dozens of fires burning across the West Coast has reached 35, with fires burning approximately 5 million acres and forcing tens of thousands of people to flee their homes.

29 dead including 2 children, dozens missing from West Coast wildfires; President Trump to visit fire-ravaged California



Wildfires have devastated states on the West Coast; at least 29 people have been killed, dozens of others missing, and hundreds of thousands have been forced to evacuate their homes.

The National Interagency Fire Center reports that 97 large fires have burned 4.7 million acres across the western states. Over 29,000 firefighters and support personnel are battling the wildfires, along with 2,200 fire engines and 103 aircraft. There are evacuation orders in place due to 40 large fires in California, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.

Oregon Governor Kate Brown (D) noted that nearly 900,000 acres had burned by Friday. "In the last 10 years, we see an average of 500,000 acres burn in an entire year. We've seen that nearly double in the past three days," Brown said.

Approximately 500,000 in Oregon have evacuated or have been instructed to be prepared to evacuate, which is more than 10% of the state's population.

Oregon's emergency management director, Andrew Phelps, told MSNBC that the state is preparing for a "mass fatality incident" because of the wildfires. "There are going to be a number of fatalities, folks who just couldn't get warning in time and evacuate their homes and get to safety," Phelps said.

Wyatt Tofte, a 12-year-old boy from Lyons, Oregon, and his 71-year-old grandmother Peggy Mosso died while trying to escape the fire. The boy took shelter in the family car, but the flames surrounded him. A family spokeswoman said Wyatt was found by himself in a car, and the family's dog was found dead in his lap.

I've had incredibly heartbreaking conversations today. This is 12-year-old Wyatt Tofte & his grandmother, Peggy Mos… https://t.co/rVHTFVvP6E
— Kandra Kent (@Kandra Kent)1599713329.0


500,000 residents of northwest Oregon have either evacuated or been told to be ready to go, as those in southern Or… https://t.co/7pgMJhZGiE
— NPR (@NPR)1599854543.0


All @ORDeptForestry forestland is currently closed to public entry & use, including the Santiam, Tillamook, Clatsop… https://t.co/AyKNYEQLLE
— Forest Service NW (@Forest Service NW)1599939278.0


Residents evacuated from Molalla, Oregon, as the sky turned crimson from smoke and cinders as wildfires have contin… https://t.co/wVDnn8xO1k
— ABC News (@ABC News)1599880864.0


At least six people have died as wildfires tear through the US west coast.Dozens of fires have raged across Washi… https://t.co/bDPSntdA6O
— Channel 5 News (@Channel 5 News)1599841390.0


A record 3.2 million acres in California have been scorched since last month, and about 4,000 structures have been destroyed. The death toll in California from the wildfires reached 20 on Saturday.

A 16-year-old boy was among those where were killed by the wildfires in California. Josiah Williams died while trying to escape a fast-moving inferno in Berry Creek in Northern California.

"He was alone, terrified, and ran for his life," the boy's mother, Jessica Williams, told KOVR reporter Velena Jones. "My son was a good, smart, caring young boy that died alone, and it kills me thinking about what he was going through."

Cal Fire stated that five of the 20 largest California wildfires in history have occurred in 2020, including the biggest ever, the August Complex Fire. The largest California fire in history is located about a two-hour drive northwest of Sacramento. The August Complex Fire has burned 746,000 acres after merging with other large fires. The blaze is currently 25% contained.

Extreme weather conditions has caused an increase in acreage for the #CreekFire, which has now grown to be the 16th… https://t.co/wcbgYF4hc1
— CAL FIRE (@CAL FIRE)1599846608.0


Fires have been blazing across the western U.S. for the past few months. August and September 2020 saw record-setti… https://t.co/Q33Rds5P3m
— NASA Earth (@NASA Earth)1599849774.0

On Sunday, President Donald Trump announced that he would visit fire-ravaged California. The president will travel to McClellan Park in Sacramento County on Monday to be briefed on the catastrophic wildfires.

"Since mid-August, President Trump and Governor Newsom have spoken by phone and the White House and FEMA have remained in constant contact with State and local officials throughout the response to these natural disasters. The President continues to support those who are battling raging wildfires in a locally-executed, state-managed, and federally-supported emergency response," Deputy Press Secretary Judd Deere said in a statement.

On Friday, President Trump tweeted about the wildfires obliterating the West Coast.

"THANK YOU to the 28,000+ Firefighters and other First Responders who are battling wildfires across California, Oregon, and Washington," he wrote. "I have approved 37 Stafford Act Declarations, including Fire Management Grants to support their brave work. We are with them all the way!"

THANK YOU to the 28,000+ Firefighters and other First Responders who are battling wildfires across California, Oreg… https://t.co/JglonEB62E
— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump)1599870510.0

Authorities have arrested four people for suspected arson in the historic wildfires in California, Oregon, and Washington. Two Oregon men were arrested and accused of looting homes that were forced to evacuate.

Authorities arrest 4 people on arson charges in deadly and massive California, Oregon, and Washington wildfires



Authorities have arrested at least four people for suspected arson in the massive and still-growing wildfires in California, Oregon, and Washington.

What are the details?

According to reports, authorities in those states say that at least four of the fires are considered suspicious.

California authorities arrested suspect Anita Esquivel for allegedly intentionally setting fires along U.S. 101.

She was booked into the Monterey County Jail on arson charges.

Oregon authorities also arrested Michael Jarrod Bakkela, who lived in the woods of Oregon on two counts of arson, 15 counts of criminal mischief, and 14 counts of reckless endangerment.

Oregon Live reports that Bakkela is reportedly responsible for setting one of two major wildfires in the state, which has killed dozens and displaced hundreds.

Oregon State Fire Marshal's office spokesperson Rich Tyler added that the fire Bakkela reportedly set is considered to be one of two origins of the Almeda fire.

Jackson County Sheriff's Office PIO Mike Moran told ABC News that the fire has caused "significant damage."

"There are numerous homes, many of which are burnt completely, some are just heavily damaged, that are part of the 15 counts of criminal mischief," he said.

According to Oregon Live, authorities have told area residents to prepare for a "mass fatality incident" due to the fires.

Washington authorities arrested two unrelated suspects who reportedly set small fires in the brush in two different areas of freeway.

CNN on Thursday reported that the wildfires across the western states torched more than 4 million acres, which is roughly the size of the state of New Jersey.

Anything else?

The FBI on Friday released a statement about reports that "extremists" were responsible for setting wildfires in Oregon.

"FBI Portland and local law enforcement agencies have been receiving reports that extremists are responsible for setting wildfires in Oregon," the statement rad. "With our state and local partners, the FBI has investigated several such reports and found them to be untrue. Conspiracy theories and misinformation take valuable resources away local fire and police agencies working around the clock to bring these fires under control. Please help our entire community by only sharing validated information from official sources."

thefederalist.com

The West Coast is on Fire (And You Should Blame Democrats)

Despite common sense, history, and science, leftist environmentalists would rather fund climate change legislation than save the Earth from wildfires.

California gender-reveal party with pyrotechnic device sparks massive blaze that burns over 7,300 acres



More than 500 firefighters, 60 fire engines, and four helicopters have been deployed to a massive fire in Southern California. The huge inferno, dubbed the El Dorado Fire, was caused by a pyrotechnic device used at a gender-reveal party.

The gender-reveal party was held in El Dorado Ranch Park, and the fire began at 10:23 a.m. Saturday. The couple, and possibly some other friends and family, went to a grassy field at El Dorado Ranch Park, to announce the gender of their baby, Cal Fire Capt. Bennett Milloy told KTVU. They used a cylindrical device to send up either pink or blue smoke, and reveal the sex, he said. But the spectacle created a fire, which the couple tried to douse with their own water bottles, he said.

The blaze quickly spread from the park to Yucaipa Ridge, which separates Mountain Home Village, and Forest Falls from Yucaipa. As of Monday morning, the massive inferno had burned 7,386 acres and was only 7% was contained, according to San Bernardino County Fire Protection District.

"CAL FIRE Law Enforcement has determined the El Dorado Fire, burning near Oak Glen in San Bernardino County, was caused by a smoke generating pyrotechnic device, used during a gender reveal party," the agency stated.

"Those responsible for starting fires due to negligence or illegal activity can be held financially responsible and criminally responsible," Cal Fire said.

CAL Fire investigators believe a family taking gender reveal photos at a Yucaipa-area park with pyrotechnics sparke… https://t.co/pKcoJQB9uv
— Kara Finnstrom (@Kara Finnstrom)1599490358.0

Four towns in San Bernardino County — Oak Glen, Yucaipa Ridge, Mountain Home Village and Forest Falls — were under evacuation orders because of the El Dorado Fire. About 21,000 residents have been evacuated. Several homes have been destroyed, according to KCAL-TV.

Timelapse of the #ElDoradoFire from this afternoon near North Bench Yucaipa. @SanBernardinoNF @CALFIREBDU https://t.co/uHOmlnkdID
— SB County Fire (@SB County Fire)1599440417.0



The El Dorado Fire is one of three major wildfires currently smoldering in California, along with the Creek Fire and Valley Fire.

The state has recently become a tinderbox because of extremely high temperatures into the 100s, extremely dry conditions, and fast winds that can spread fires quickly.

"Cal Fire reminds the public that with the dry conditions and critical fire weather, it doesn't take much to start a wildfire," the agency said.

Several new fire in California today. The #CreekFire in Fresno County. #ValleyFire in San Diego County.… https://t.co/kkE9Zua7Ql
— Drew Tuma (@Drew Tuma)1599351394.0

Creek Fire in Fresno County and Madera County has charred 73,278 acres, and threatens more communities as well as recreation areas like Shaver and Bass lakes, and Yosemite National Park. The fire has destroyed 25 homes, and at least 850 structures are seriously threatened. Cal Fire said that 0% of the blaze was contained.


Jeremy Remington is one of 207 people that was trapped and rescued from Mammoth Pool. He got to Fresno sometime aft… https://t.co/8RcmWTqCEY
— Dennis Valera (@Dennis Valera)1599407506.0


@wxbrad I took this today from our Southwest flight from San Jose to Las Vegas https://t.co/QfWYTr6sh7
— Thalia Dockery (@Thalia Dockery)1599364216.0

The Valley Fire prompted the San Diego County Sheriff's Department to issue a voluntary evacuation order. The wildfire has burned 10,258 acres and is only 1% contained. The San Diego County Fire Department requested military aircraft from the Navy Third Fleet and the First Marine Expeditionary Force to battle the blaze.

Smoke from the #ValleyFire towers over San Diego County @10News https://t.co/hNDrhouYsF
— Jennifer Delacruz (@Jennifer Delacruz)1599457471.0


#valleyfire 09/07/20 Information map for the Valley Fire https://t.co/GD9WEeT2CG
— Cleveland NF (@Cleveland NF)1599491860.0

Due to the wildfires, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) declared a state of emergency for five counties on Sunday: Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, San Bernardino, and San Diego County.

"Governor Newsom has declared a statewide emergency due to the widespread fires and extreme weather conditions, and secured a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration to bolster the state's emergency response to the Northern California wildfires," the governor's office said in a statement.

Governor @GavinNewsom issued an emergency proclamation for the counties of Fresno, Madera and Mariposa due to the… https://t.co/6vlAS2CBBt
— Office of the Governor of California (@Office of the Governor of California)1599447371.0