71-Year-Old Man Arrested For Setting Fire At Mariposa Company, Which Destroyed More Than 100 Homes

MARIPOSA, Calif. Wind-driven wildfires in rural Northern California have ravaged residential areas and destroyed nearly 100 homes and other structures.

Northern California Fire ( Photo: NPR )

Edward Fredrick Wackerman of Mariposa arrested on suspicion of serious arson

Edward Fredrik Wackerman has been arrested on suspicion of aggravated assault and arson that caused the damage or destruction of a building occupied, the California Forestry and Fire Protection Agency also known as “Cal Fire” said in a statement. The fire injured three firefighters, burned 19,244 acres (30 square miles, 77 square kilometers) of land, and destroyed 127 homes and 66 outbuildings, according to California Fire. The two were taken to Mercy Medical Center Mount Shasta. One was in stable condition and the other was taken to the Medical Center which has a burn unit.

The fire was one of several devastating fires to hit northern California and other states over the past year

Investigators have determined that the factory fire was caused by work at a wood products factory in Weed, California, near the California-Oregon border. Scientists say climate change has made the western region warmer and drier over the past 30 years and will continue to make the weather more extreme and wildfires more frequent and devastating. California is in the midst of a severe drought and traditionally has its worst fire season.

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