The man charged with starting the fire, John Ballenger (above), made his first court appearance in Butte County Superior Court on Friday
California Governor Jerry Brown on Friday issued an emergency declaration for a wildfire burning in the northern part of the state, the same day the man accused of starting the blaze was charged with arson.
The so-called Ponderosa Fire has burned 3,715 acres and destroyed 30 homes in Butte County, prompting authorities to issue evacuation orders to residents of some 500 homes in the area, officials said.
It was 40 percent contained on Friday, up from 30 percent the day before.
The blaze is burning east of the town of Oroville, about 85 miles north of the state capital of Sacramento.
The declaration will free up additional resources to battle the blaze, which erupted on Tuesday from a campfire that was started outside a designated area.
The man charged with starting the fire, John Ballenger, made his first court appearance in Butte County Superior Court on Friday, District Attorney Michael Ramsey said in a telephone interview.
Ballenger is charged with two counts of arson and was ordered held on a $1million bond, Ramsey said.
Ballenger could face up to seven years and eight months in prison if convicted.
Ballenger was appointed a public defender and is due back in court to enter a plea on Wednesday.
California Governor Jerry Brown on Friday issued an emergency declaration for a wildfire burning in the northern part of the state.
A firefighter is seen above battling the Ponderosa Fire east of Oroville, California on Tuesday
The so-called Ponderosa Fire has burned 3,715 acres and destroyed 30 homes in Butte County
The fire has also prompted authorities to issue evacuation orders to residents of some 500 homes in the area
It was 40 percent contained on Friday, up from 30 percent the day before
The blaze is burning east of the town of Oroville, about 85 miles north of the state capital of Sacramento
The declaration will free up additional resources to battle the blaze, which erupted on Tuesday from a campfire that was started outside a designated area
The public defender’s office could not be reached for comment.
Ballenger was camping on property his family owns, Ramsey said.
‘He had a campfire burning 24-7,’ the district attorney said.
Meanwhile, another wildfire broke out on Friday, more than 400 miles south of the Ponderosa blaze, in a north Los Angeles neighborhood.
A tanker is seen above dropping retardant while battling the Ponderosa Fire east of Oroville
Fire retardant is a substance that is used to slow the spread of fire or reduce its intensity
Chemicals used to fight fires may include water, water enhancers, or specially-formulated fire retardants
The 500-acre blaze triggered the closure of a section of the 210 Freeway as it tore through brush, and authorities also told residents of 200 homes in the area to evacuate because of approaching flames, said Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Margaret Stewart.
In Montana, Governor Steve Bullock on Friday declared a state of disaster due to wildfires as dozens raged across tens of thousands of acres during one of the worst fire seasons in state history.
Bone-dry conditions, high winds and triple-digit temperatures pose ‘an imminent threat’ to residents, Bullock said in the disaster declaration, which would allow the state to mobilize additional Montana National Guard troops and tap other state resources to combat the blazes.