The man who ignited a wildfire that scorched over 10,000 acres in California's Calaveras County revealed how he sparked the flames.
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Herbert Wayne Smith, 65, said he was using a saw to cut metal scraps to sell to pay for his wife's birthday celebration. Eager to score some quick cash to treat his wife to dinner, Smith began using his saw without clearing flammable vegetation or bringing tools to combat a potential fire.
"The investigation revealed Smith was operating equipment capable of producing sparks in vegetation without complying with the fire prevention requirements of California Public Resources Code," Cal Fire said in a statement following Smith's arrest.
Fox 40 reported that a 70-year-old woman died in the massive fire. Officials discovered her body inside her burned residence.
Her death is the only reported fatality in the fire that set 10,373 acres ablaze.
California Man Apologizes For Sparking Massive Wildfire
For his role in sparking the fire and the associated damage, Smith expressed remorse.
"This is going to destroy my life. One way or another," Smith said in an interview with KCRA.
He added, "I'm so sorry for everything that's happened. That was never my intent. I was just out there trying to get some money together. And it turned into this."
Despite triple-digit temperatures making the efforts more challenging, crews as of Thursday morning achieved 26 percent containment of the blaze, Cal Fire said.
More Than 2,000 Firefighters Deployed to Contain Gann Fire
The wildfire is the fifth-largest in California this year, according to Cal Fire data. Officials said 67 crews, more than 2,700 firefighters, were assigned to the fire. Twelve helicopters, 247 fire engines, 46 bulldozers and 25 water tenders were also used to combat the fire.
Criminal charges against Smith had not yet been filed in Calaveras Superior Court. Cal Fire submitted its investigation to the Calaveras District Attorney's Office for review and potential prosecution.
Smith was arrested on charges related to causing a fire of a structure or forest land, allowing a fire to escape or spread, and operating machinery without clearance, according to jail logs.
In California, unlawfully causing a fire of a structure or forest land is a felony. Those found guilty of such could serve 16 months, two or three years in state prison. The crime could also be punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for up to six months, or by a fine. In some instances, both imprisonment and a fine are required.
A court date for Smith has not yet been scheduled.
