Wildfires in California
Wildfires that started on July 24 near the northern California city of Chico are continuing. The “Park Fire”, which is burning east of Chico, has burned more than 370,000 acres of forest. It is the sixth largest fire in the state of California. The fires destroyed many structures and forced thousands of people to evacuate from the area. Only 12 percent of the fires have been brought under control so far.
Suspect Arrested in California Fires Appears in Court
According to CBS News, the suspect accused of starting the fires, Ronnie Dean Stout, appeared in court. Stout allegedly “intentionally started the fires by pushing a vehicle into a pit full of dead brush and setting it on fire.” Stout pleaded not guilty to the charges in his first hearing, but his second hearing was postponed until Thursday. It was revealed that the suspect has a previous conviction and has been to prison twice.