A 26-year-old man from Oroville, California, has been accused of causing a damaging wildfire in early July by throwing a firework from his car window during hot, dry, and windy conditions. The Butte County District Attorney’s Office charged Spencer Grant Anderson after a lengthy surveillance operation by investigators.
The fire, named the Thompson fire, burned nearly 6 square miles (15.5 square kilometers) in the Oroville area, destroying 13 homes and causing damage to others in the northern Sacramento Valley. Anderson faced charges including arson of an inhabited structure, arson of forest land, and arson causing multiple structures to burn. He was held in jail without bail after his court appearance.
Anderson is scheduled to return to court on Wednesday for further proceedings related to his case. Larry Pilgrim, Anderson’s attorney, mentioned that it was a complex investigation with many details involved. The fire started on July 2 in extreme weather conditions with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees and low humidity, authorities reported.
After identifying a vehicle at the origin of the fire, investigators tracked down Anderson and conducted surveillance before making the arrest on August 22. Authorities alleged that Anderson confessed to purchasing fireworks in Oroville and throwing one from his car window to test it at the fire location.
