A man from California is in serious trouble after being charged with arson. Authorities say he started a fire near Chico that quickly turned into a massive 125,000-acre blaze on Thursday. This is just one of the latest wildfires spreading across the West this summer.
The fire, known as the Park Fire, happens to be the largest one in California this year.
Ronnie Stout, who’s 42, is now in jail without the option of bail. Investigators from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said Stout started the fire just before 3 p.m. on Wednesday. According to Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey, a witness saw Stout pushing a burning car down a 60-foot embankment, causing flames to spread quickly.
“The man was seen calmly blending in with the others in the area who were trying to escape the quickly spreading fire,” stated Ramsey’s office. “Cal Fire arson investigators were on the scene right away, collecting clues to identify the suspect.”
The Park Fire was confirmed to have started in this way, according to the district attorney’s office. Stout is in Butte County jail and will be facing arson charges during his arraignment on Monday afternoon. “What exact charges and any additional penalties will be determined later,” said Ramsey. “We are hopeful it won’t involve serious injury or death, but it’s too soon to tell.” Thankfully, no injuries have been reported so far.
Ramsey added that the car belonged to Stout’s mother.
As of now, the Park Fire is only 3% contained, according to Cal Fire. It has already consumed nearly 125,000 acres in Tehama counties. Daniel Swain, a climate expert from UCLA, mentioned in a live YouTube video that this fire is likely to become a long-term problem. “This fire could be around for weeks or even months, possibly lasting until fall,” he said.
“The fire spread incredibly fast, from 0 to 75,000 square miles overnight,” Swain added. “It has likely reached 100,000 square miles by now and continues to grow swiftly. It created a 40-mile-wide active fire line.”
Many Wildfires are Caused by Humans
The National Park Service reports that nearly 85% of all wildfires are triggered by human activity. Though many are accidental and result from carelessness.
“Human-caused fires often stem from unattended campfires, debris burning, equipment use, cigarette disposal, and intentional acts of arson,” the agency mentioned.
The National Interagency Fire Center notes that arson fires could account for over 20% of all human-caused fires.
Earlier this year, Reugio Jimenez Jr. admitted to involuntary manslaughter and other charges for the El Dorado fire in San Bernardino County. He and his wife used a pyrotechnic device to reveal the gender of their baby back on September 5, 2020. Unfortunately, the wildfire that ensued burned over 22,000 acres, taking the life of U.S. Forest Service firefighter Charles Morton.
In Arizona, the San Carlos Apache Reservation police charged 22-year-old tribal member Keanu Dude with arson for starting a 2,000-acre fire on July 10. The investigation is ongoing. That fire took more than a week to contain, destroyed 21 homes, and forced over 400 tribal members to evacuate.
In 2021, Alexandra Andreevna Souverneva faced several arson-related charges for allegedly starting the Fawn Fire in September 2021 near Redding, California. This fire burned 8,578 acres, according to local reports.
Wildfires Devastate Communities Across North America
There are currently 89 major active wildfires being monitored across 10 western states and Alaska, covering a total of 1.2 million acres. These fires are made worse by climate change, with higher temperatures, strong winds, and dry conditions fueling them.
“Climate change is leading to larger and more severe wildfires in the western United States,” according to the National Climate Assessment.
So far this year, at least 26,825 wildfires have been reported in the U.S., which is 6,000 fewer than the 10-year average. However, the total acreage burned this year — 3,633,567 — is still higher than the year-to-date average of 3,350,598, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
The National Weather Service issued red flag warnings across the northwestern part of the country, due to expected high winds and low humidity, which spells bad news for ongoing fires along the Pacific Coast and into Canada.
Besides the Park Fire in California, there are several other wildfires that have burned over 60,000 combined acres in the state, according to Cal Fire. For instance, the Lake Fire in Santa Barbara County is 90% contained after burning 38,664 acres. The Trout Fire in Tulare County is only 10% contained and has burned 22,231 acres.
In Oregon, the Durkee Fire has consumed 268,492 acres and is currently 0% contained according to the state’s Wildfire Response and Recovery. In total, Oregon is dealing with 126 active fires that have burned 956,917 acres.
In Washington state, several active fires are collectively burning over 60,000 acres, as noted by the state’s Department of Natural Resources. The Northwest Interagency Coordination Center indicated that fires like Big Horn, Swawilla, and Bridge Creek are all 0% contained.
Across the border in Canada, a massive wildfire is putting immense pressure on firefighters in Alberta. This fire reached the town of Jasper on Wednesday, leading to the evacuation of 25,000 residents. Jasper National Park was also closed to visitors. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau mentioned on social media that every federal agency in Canada is helping both with the firefighting efforts and providing resources to the affected residents.
