Man arrested for Thompson Fire in Butte County

Butte County officials have made significant progress in their investigation of the Thompson Fire, which ravaged the Oroville area in early July. Cal Fire announced the arrest of 26-year-old Spencer Anderson, who is suspected of igniting the fire that destroyed 13 homes and forced the evacuation of approximately 17,000 residents. Authorities determined within the first day that the fire was caused by arson and monitored Anderson until they finalized their case. He faces serious charges, including arson to wildland and structures, with an enhancement for the destruction of multiple inhabited structures. Anderson is currently held without bail and is set for arraignment on Monday. The Thompson Fire, which ignited on July 2 near Cherokee Road, burned nearly 3,800 acres and had significant repercussions, including the shutdown of the Hyatt Powerplant. In a related incident, Harold Pulley, a 61-year-old Oroville resident, was arrested shortly after the fire for allegedly setting a backfire using a propane torch in a high-risk area, further complicating the situation. In another case, Butte County prosecutors reported that Ronnie Dean Stout II, 42, of Chico, pleaded not guilty to charges of arson related to the Park Fire, California's fourth-largest wildfire. Stout was arrested on July 25, the day after the fire began in Upper Bidwell Park, which resulted in the destruction of 637 structures. These incidents highlight the ongoing challenges of wildfire management and the legal repercussions for those responsible.