Suspected Arsonist Held on $10M Bail for Setting Explosive California Wildfire
Wayne Allen Huntsman is accused of intentionally setting the King Fire, a fast moving, 111-square-mile blaze east of Sacramento.
.Police arrested 37-year-old Wayne Allen Huntsman on Thursday for allegedly setting a massive California wildfire, the Associated Press reported.
Huntsman, who is being held on $10 million, is accused of intentionally starting the King Fire, a fast moving 111-square-mile blaze east of Sacramento.
The fire, which increased 1.5 times overnight and is only 5 percent contained, has sent an estimated 2,800 people fleeing from their homes.
Huntsman was charged with "willfully and maliciously" setting the fire, a felony, as well as injuring a firefighter, peace officer and other first responders battling the blaze, according to the complaint, obtained by CBS Sacramento.
California Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency late Wednesday night, though rain on Thursday was expected to help temper the flames.
Laurence Crabtree, a U.S. Forest Service supervisor for the Eldorado National Forest, told News10 that fighting the fast-moving fire is costing $5 million dollars a day.