Father and son arrested on suspicion of sparking California's Tahoe-threatening Caldor Fire

Caldor Fire
(Image credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

A father and son were arrested Wednesday on suspicion of starting California's Caldor Fire, which burned from Aug. 14 until fire crews fully contained it Oct. 21. The fire spread across more than 221,000 acres, destroyed nearly 800 structures and hundreds of acres of ski runs at Sierra-at-Tahoe, burned the town of Grizzly Flats to the ground, and forced about 50,000 people to evacuate from around Lake Tahoe and along the Highway 50 corridor, including the entire city of South Lake Tahoe.

David Scott Smith, 66, and Travis Shane Smith, 32, were arrested for reckless arson on a Ramey warrant, meaning a judge approved their detention before prosecutors filed formal charges, the Reno Gazette Journal explains. The investigation that led to the duo was conducted by the U.S. Forest Service and El Dorado County district attorney's office.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.