Man accused of starting destructive California fire by throwing fireworks through car window

A 26-year-old man has been charged with starting a destructive fire in California in early July by throwing a firework from a car window in hot, dry and windy weather.

Spencer Grant Anderson, of Oroville, was charged this week after weeks of continued surveillance by investigators, the Butte County District Attorney’s Office said.

The Thompson Fire has burned nearly 6 square miles, destroyed 13 homes and damaged others in the Oroville area of ​​the northern Sacramento Valley.

Anderson was jailed without bail after appearing in court to face charges including arson of an inhabited structure, arson of a wooded lot and arson of multiple structures, the prosecutor’s office said in a statement.

Anderson will return to court Wednesday to set other dates to enter a plea and for preliminary hearings, the office said.

“It was a long investigation, there were a lot of moving parts,” Larry Pilgrim, Anderson’s attorney, told The New York Times. “He’s just charged at this point.” Pilgrim did not immediately return messages from The Associated Press seeking comment.

The fire broke out shortly before 11 a.m. on July 2, when temperatures were above 100 degrees (38 Celsius), humidity was low and winds were blowing, authorities said.

A car seen at the scene of the fire led to Anderson’s identification the next day and a lengthy surveillance as investigators built their case, concluding that a burning object had been thrown from the vehicle, the office said.

The warrants were served on August 22 and Anderson was arrested. Authorities say that during questioning, he admitted to buying fireworks in Oroville and went to the location to test one, throwing it out the car window.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

TOPICS
California disaster Natural disasters Car fire