California Local News

Suspect Apprehended for causing Massive California Wildfire, Pushed Burning Car into Gully: CalFire Officials

Suspect Apprehended for causing Massive California Wildfire, Pushed Burning Car into Gully: CalFire Officials

An enormous wildfire in Northern California has become the largest blaze of this wildfire season, causing widespread destruction and forcing thousands of people to evacuate. According to authorities, the fire was reportedly ignited by an individual who deliberately pushed a burning car into a gully.

A 42-year-old individual suspected of arson and connected to the Park Fire in Butte County, near the city of Chico, was apprehended on Thursday morning. Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey confirmed the arrest and stated that the suspect has been detained without bail.

The suspect has been identified as Ronnie Dean Stout II, with officials making the announcement on Thursday evening. Stout II is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday.

According to Ramsey, Stout was reportedly seen around 3 p.m. on Wednesday, pushing a car engulfed in flames down a gully known as “Alligator Hole” in Bidwell Park near Chico.

“According to a statement by Ramsey, the car rolled down a 60-foot embankment and was completely engulfed in flames, which subsequently led to the Park Fire.”

A man, later identified as the Stout, was reportedly observed calmly exiting the vicinity, skillfully blending in with other park visitors who were hastily evacuating due to the rapidly spreading fire, according to Ramsey.

Stout has been convicted of two previous felonies, as stated by the DA’s office. The evidence will determine the appropriate arson charge to be filed on Monday.

According to Stanford Law School, the “Three Strikes and You’re Out” law in California can result in a life sentence for individuals who have two previous convictions for serious or violent crimes, regardless of the severity of their current offense.

The DA has reported that Stout has prior felony convictions, including a conviction for lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 years of age in 2001 and a conviction for robbery with great bodily injury in 2002.

According to the DA, he received a 20-year state prison sentence after being convicted in 2002.

Smoke from the Park Fire in Butte County, California, and the Durkee Fire in Oregon continued to fill the skies along the West Coast on Thursday. Firefighters faced challenges from gusty winds and difficult terrain as they worked to combat these two large blazes, according to officials.

A massive fire broke out in Bidwell Park near Chico on Wednesday afternoon, rapidly spreading and engulfing over 164,000 acres by Friday morning. The destructive blaze has resulted in the loss of numerous structures and forced the Butte County Sheriff’s Department to issue evacuation orders for rural foothill communities, including the small town of Cohasset with a population of approximately 400.

Over 1,100 firefighters are currently battling the flames, employing helicopters and bulldozers to create fire lines in a race against time to protect the residential areas of north Chico.

Officials reported that a significant number of individuals, totaling at least 3,800, were instructed to evacuate in Butte and Tehama counties.

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