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In 2021, with a large number of wildfires starting in California authorities began focusing more on what’s causing them. In the August Caldor Fire, a father and his son are being accused of reckless arson.

David Scott Smith, 66, and his son Travis Shane Smith, 32, were taken into custody Wednesday on a “Ramey warrant.” And this allows the prosecutor to delay charging a specific offense for the crime.

The El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office claims the pair are under suspicion for a violation known as reckless arson. And they are being held on 1 million dollar bail.

The Caldor Fire

According to prosecutors, the fire destroyed over 200,000 acres and over 1,000 buildings and other structures. And it also forced the evacuation of  South Lake Tahoe, a city with a population of around 21,000.

The Caldor Fire started on August 14th in Grizzly Falls. And was not fully out until October  21.

Carried by Easterly winds it burned through the Eldorado National Forest towards the Nevada border. 

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reports that the Caldor Fire is the 15th biggest wildfire in the state’s history. And the department also says that it is the 16th most destructive. 

Father and son both claim innocence

The district attorney’s office has not yet explained how the fire was started. 

The Smith's attorney, Mark Reichel, says he does not know what prosecutors’ are claiming. And he is adamant his clients are innocent.

“They’re charged that it’s accidental but reckless — the DA is not saying it was intentional,” Reichel said. “We are saying we are 100 percent innocent. We’re saying they did not start it.”

Reichel knew the father and son were under investigation. And conformed search warrants were conducted in their houses during August.