Father and son arrested in connection to starting Caldor Fire
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Wed, 12/08/2021 - 5:03pm
EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. — A father and son were arrested and are accused of reckless arson in connection with the Caldor Fire, the massive wildfire that burned more than 200,000 acres in El Dorado and Amador counties, according to the El Dorado County District Attorney's Office.
The District Attorney's Office announced Wednesday that David Scott Smith, 66, and Travis Shane Smith, 32, were arrested pursuant to Ramey warrants. A Ramey warrant is a warrant that is issued before criminal charges are filed.
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 DA's office has not released where or how the fire started.
They worked together with the USDA Forest Service, Cal Fire, the California Department of Justice and the Sacramento County District Attorney's Crime Lab to investigate the cause of the Caldor Fire.
At this time no photos are available. They are currently in the El Dorado County Jail according to the DA's office. No other information is available at this time.
According to the Sacramento Bee, both men have hired attorney Mark Reichel of Sacramento who says they spotted the fire and were trying to call it into authorities and they did not start it.
The following is a press release issued Wednesday by the El Dorado District Attorney's Office:
Caldor Fire Arrest Statement
A father and son are now under arrest, accused of reckless arson in connection with the Caldor Fire, the massive wildfire that burned more than 200,000 acres in El Dorado and Amador Counties.
David Scott Smith, 66, and Travis Shane Smith, 32, were arrested pursuant to Ramey warrants. A Ramey warrant is a warrant that is issued before criminal charges are filed.
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 El Dorado County District Attorney's Office worked together with the USDA Forest Service, Cal Fire, the California Department of Justice and the Sacramento County District Attorney's Crime Lab to investigate the cause of the Caldor Fire.
