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.