A Calaveras County man arrested on suspicion of sparking the massive Gann Fire says the blaze began by accident while he was trying to earn extra cash to take his wife out for her birthday.
Herbert Wayne Smith, 65, of Spring Valleys, told KCRA he was cutting scrap metal with a saw on Monday so he could sell it and pay for the birthday outing when the fire ignited and eventually burned more than 10,000 acres.
“This is going to destroy my life, one way or another,” Smith said in the interview, as he described feeling remorse over what happened.
“I’m so sorry for everything that’s happened. That was never my intent. I was just out there trying to get some money together, and it turned into this.”
Officials allege Smith used equipment that could throw sparks without first clearing nearby dry vegetation and without having firefighting tools available.
“The investigation revealed Smith was operating equipment capable of producing sparks in vegetation without complying with the fire prevention requirements of California Public Resources Code,” Cal Fire said in a statement after his arrest.
As of Wednesday afternoon, no criminal charges had been filed against Smith in Calaveras Superior Court. Cal Fire has turned over its investigation to the Calaveras District Attorney’s Office, which will review the case for possible prosecution.
The Gann Fire prompted evacuation orders and warnings as flames threatened homes and property. Over several days, the fast-moving blaze grew more difficult to contain as triple-digit heat and extremely dry fuels challenged crews across the parched terrain.
While grueling conditions persist, Cal Fire reported a steady rise in containment, though officials warn that crews remain on high alert with the heatwave slated to last through the weekend.
