Authorities have arrested a man accused of starting two wildfires in Northern California, contributing to the worsening wildfire crisis this season. On October 19, Cal Fire law enforcement apprehended Gary Kevin Fuller, a resident of Oroville, in connection with two separate fires along Highway 162 in Butte County, about 70 miles north of Sacramento.
Fuller was charged with two counts of arson and is currently in custody with bail set at $150,000, according to a spokesperson for the Butte County jail. Cal Fire responded to a report of a brush fire near Arbol Avenue on the day of Fuller’s arrest and quickly extinguished the blaze. Shortly after, another fire was reported 1.5 miles away.
Witnesses provided descriptions of the suspect, leading Butte County Sheriff’s deputies to detain Fuller until Cal Fire investigators could arrive. Evidence from the scene helped authorities establish probable cause, leading to his arrest.
California has experienced a heightened risk of wildfires this year due to heavy vegetation growth following an unusually wet spring. Arson has been a growing concern, with Cal Fire reporting 110 arrests for arson in 2024 alone. This follows a spike in incidents in recent years, with arson responsible for 11 percent of all wildfires statewide.
The state continues to battle multiple fires across Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Shasta, Alameda, and Kern counties, exacerbating the strain on firefighting resources. Wildfires have caused significant economic losses and disrupted California’s housing and insurance markets, as both homeowners and renters face increased challenges.
Fuller’s case is part of a disturbing trend of arson-related wildfires across the state, adding to a series of high-profile incidents, including the Park Fire and the Line Fire, which have also been attributed to arson.
