Suspect arrested in Oroville wildfire; 10 homes destroyed

OROVILLE - Authorities on Wednesday arrested a man suspected of starting an illegal campfire believed to have ignited a growing Northern California blaze that destroyed 10 homes, damaged five others and threatened hundreds more.

The wildfire sparked Tuesday near the town of Oroville, a region already hard-hit by fire and a massive evacuation earlier this year caused by damage to sections of the nation’s tallest dam.

It’s one of many wildfires burning across the West, including blazes in and around Yosemite National Park that have closed a popular road into the park, shuttered the iconic Wawona Hotel and evacuated nearby towns. Some 58 homes near the park were destroyed earlier this summer.

The fire near Oroville, about 70 miles north of Sacramento, is not at all contained, Cal Fire said.

Three more communities were evacuated and firefighters struggled to contain the fast-burning flames Wednesday as temperatures surged into triple digits. The West is struggling with heat that is making the battle against wildfires difficult.

Plus, record rains earlier this year that ended California’s historic drought have produced more vegetation, which is fueling the fires.

“Taken all that together, it’s real tough out there,” Cal Fire spokesman Jeremy Rahn said.

Cal Fire investigators arrested John Ballenger, 29, of Oroville, on suspicion of starting an illegal campfire. He was taken to jail, and records don’t show whether he is represented by an attorney.

“All campfires pose a risk of escaping,” Cal Fire spokesman Darren Read said. “A campfire should never be left unattended and must be extinguished completely before everyone leaves.”

The wildfire is about 20 miles east of Oroville Dam. Tens of thousands of residents downstream fled in February when the dam’s spillways crumbled and led to fears of catastrophic flooding. Waters receded before they breached the dam, and water officials said repairs are 20 percent complete.

Months later, a wildfire about 15 miles south of the dam destroyed 41 homes.

Meanwhile, some two dozen fires are burning in Oregon, leading to the evacuation of more than 4,500 people.

The area burning in the state is roughly equivalent to half the state of Rhode Island, and the largest fire is only partially contained after lightning ignited it in mid-July.

Smoke from all the blazes has converged on Portland, several hundred miles away, and has obscured the view of Mount Hood and triggered air quality warnings.