(PresidentialWire.com)- According to KTLA-5, a California news outlet, a homeless man was arrested in California on Tuesday after allegedly starting a wildfire in the Angeles National Forest. It comes as the state battles various other wildfires owing to high temperatures and lightning.
Local reports say that Osmin Palencia, a 36-year-old man of no fixed address, faced a count of arson during a state of emergency, and a count of arson on a structure or forest. Palencia is understood to have lived in a tent near the Mountain Cove region of Azusa and is said to have started the fire on August 13. A report from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said that he started the fire during an argument, but it has not been confirmed who he was arguing with or what the dispute was over.
Forest officials say that as of Tuesday this week, the fire was 19% contain and had burned around 3,900 acres. That’s a lot of land impacted by a completely unavoidable fire set for no good reason.
The statement from LA’s District Attorney said that bail for Palencia has been set at $435,000, and if he is convicted, he is looking at a sentence of up to 23 years in prison.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Palencia has previously been convicted of dissuading a witness five years ago.
Evacuation orders were issued for people living in regions in the city of Vacaville, following intense fires. KPIX 5 reporter Katie Nielsen published videos of local people who were impacted by the fire, and forced to run or their lives.
“Diane ran in her nightgown almost a mile to the main road. When she started, she had both shoes on her feet. Now she only has one,” Nielsen reported.
New evacuation orders for parts of the city of #Vacaville. Police are going door to door. This fire is NOT A JOKE. Leave if you are told to leave.
There are not enough firefighters to do structure protection. This is a live-saving event ONLY! #LNULightningComplex pic.twitter.com/lUJOaCPJ27— Katie Nielsen (@KatieKPIX) August 19, 2020
Based on what I saw tonight, this will not be the only story like this. People literally ran for their lives,” she said.
