A father and son were arrested by California authorities on Wednesday on suspicion of starting the massive wildfire that scorched over 200,000 acres in the state.
David Scott Smith, 66, and Travis Shane Smith, 32, were arrested and accused of reckless arson in connection with the Caldor Fire, which threatened residents in El Dorado and Amador counties, as well as the popular tourist attraction Lake Tahoe. Their arrest was carried out through a warrant issued before criminal charges were filed, according to a statement from the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Facebook page.
“The two men are accused of violating section 452 of the California Penal Code, commonly referred to as ‘reckless arson,’ which caused inhabited properties to burn and resulted in great bodily injury to multiple victims,” the statement read.
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Mark Reichel, the Smiths’ attorney, claims Travis Smith was with his father close to where the fire began. The son called 911 several times because his calls were dropping, and both he and his father warned campers in the area. The two have a scheduled court appearance on Friday, according to the Associated Press.
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Reichel told the Washington Examiner his clients have never been charged with a crime or even been accused of a crime previously. He said he is “100% confident” in his ability to prove their innocence, claiming a lack of evidence against them that will help him make their case.
The Caldor Fire was first reported on Aug. 14, forcing thousands of Californians to evacuate from their homes to safety. By Aug. 27, the fire had burned through 100,000 acres and began making its way toward Lake Tahoe. It was not until Oct. 21 that the fire was fully contained.
