The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office has a suspect in the raging King fire in Northern California that burst into an inferno overnight and at present threatens thousands of homes. One Wayne Huntsman was booked on Wednesday on suspicion of arson and is now being held in lieu of $10 million bail according to the Sheriff’s Office.
In custody is one Wayne Huntsman, 37, who was booked Wednesday on a charge of suspicion of arson. Huntsman is being held in lieu of $10 million bail the Sheriff’s Office said.
Huntsman was apprehended in Placerville following numerous interviews of people by investigators. These interviews developed into multiple leads and the El Dorado County District Attorney Vern Pierson told reporters at the midday news conference the latest on the incident.
How the fire was started officials wouldn’t say due to the fact the investigation is still underway.
The King Fire, as it is being referred to is now out of control in the El Dorado National Forest found east of Sacramento, California’s capital, and threatens more than 2,000 homes. The fire expanded rapidly from 27,930 acres to almost 71,000 acres in one day. Estimates are another 1,500 buildings and structures are threatened by the inferno that at present is only 5% contained states the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
At present no injuries or major damage has been reported.
The US Forest Service’s Laurence Crabtree stated there was no estimate for when the fire might be contained. California Jerry Brown reacted by declaring a state of emergency for the El Dorado County area. The Federal Emergency Management Agency allowed for a correspond request for aid that should cover up to or about 75% of the state’s costs to fight the fire.
There are several active wildfires in the State of California at present. The Boles Fire is the most destructive regarding property. This inferno began on Monday and swept through the town of Weed, a logging community right near the west of Mt. Shasta. Over 150 structures were wiped out including the sawmill causing Gov. Brown to declare a State of Emergency in Siskiyou County as well.
A 320 acre Courtney fire has destroyed 20 homes and 19 buildings in Madeira County but the blaze is reported at 70% contained.
As the fires continue to rage more data will be presented by officials including evacuations, damage, containment, and injuries if any.
