Gann Fire in Calaveras County 40% Contained, Body Found and Suspect Arrested
Cal Fire reported 40% containment of the Gann Fire that has burned over 10,000 acres, while officials recovered a victim’s body and arrested a man accused of starting the blaze.
Firefighters have achieved 40% containment of the Gann Fire in Calaveras County, which has scorched more than 10,300 acres since it ignited near Hogan Dam and Gann roads on Monday evening. The blaze destroyed 18 structures, forced hundreds of residents to evacuate and left one firefighter injured after a dozer rollover.
Evacuation orders have been scaled back, allowing some residents to return home, while two Red Cross shelters in Valley Springs and Angels Camp provide food, water and support to displaced families. The county sheriff’s office also set up an animal shelter for pets and livestock.
Authorities recovered the body of a woman identified as Susan Solari, a longtime dog breeder, from a burned home on Jaquima Drive in Angels Camp.
"I’m so sorry for everything that’s happened," the suspect, Herbert Wayne Smith, told KCRA 3, adding that the fire started accidentally while he was using a saw to collect scrap material.
Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency, enabling additional state resources to assist the response effort. Smith, who has a prior fire-related conviction, was arrested on charges of recklessly causing a fire and has posted bond.
Cal Fire continues to deploy more than 3,100 personnel, using controlled burns of dry brush to limit further spread of the fire.