Father, son arrested on suspicion of starting fire that forced Lake Tahoe evacuation
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A father and son have been arrested on suspicion of starting a massive California wildfire that forced tens of thousands to flee the Lake Tahoe area earlier this year, officials said Wednesday.
The El Dorado County District Attorney’s office said in a statement that David Scott Smith and his son, Travis Shane Smith, are accused of reckless arson in a warrant issued before formal charges are filed.
Mark Reichel, the attorney for both men, says reckless arson includes starting a blaze by accident but “to such a degree that it was considered reckless.”
The fire burned more than 300 square miles (483 kilometers) from east of Sacramento to the Nevada border, threatening ski resorts and other prominent recreational areas near the iconic lake.
Firefighters from Southern Nevada traveled north to assist in fighting the fire, which started on Aug. 14 and continued to cause major damage into September. By mid-September, the fire had destroyed over 1,000 homes and other structures and overcome more than 218,000 acres.
The fire caused widespread evacuations in the area while firefighters worked to contain it.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.