CAL FIRE NEWS RELEASE

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit

CONTACT: Mary Eldridge RELEASE

Information Officer DATE: July 29, 2019
(530) 889-0111x1023
Mary.eldridge@fire.ca.gov

ARREST MADE FOR NEVADA COUNTY WILDFIRE

Auburn – On Saturday July 27, 2019 at approximately 2:45 PM, CAL FIRE air and ground resources
along with Nevada County Sheriffs and several local fire departments responded to the 12000 block of
Streeter Road in Nevada County for a report of a building column of smoke reported by the Mount
Howell Fire Lookout Tower.

The aggressive initial attack by ground and air resources contained the fire to 5.38 acres. Fire
suppression action included fixed wing air tankers making multiple air drops and bucket drops being
made by a responding helicopter.

The cause of the fire was determined to be the result of a subject using a gas weed-eater in dry grass
for a hired land clearing operation without any means to control or extinguish a kindled fire. At the
time the fire started the temperature was approximately 100 degrees with 3 to 5 miles per hour winds
and humidity at or under 20 % making this a very dangerous act.

The preliminary investigation by the CAL FIRE law enforcement officer at the scene also revealed the
fire had burned onto the property of two adjacent parcels without the prior knowledge and consent of
those property owners. No persons, livestock or homes were injured, damaged or destroyed as a result
of the fire, however, the fire did pose a potential significant threat to public and environmental safety.

www.readyforwildfire.com.

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