An elderly gentleman residing in close proximity to Yosemite National Park has been apprehended following his alleged role in a devastating forest fire that resulted in the destruction of more than 125 homes last year. According to a report from the Associated Press, Edward Wackerman from Mariposa was taken into custody on Friday for his suspected involvement in starting the Oak Fire, which consumed nearly 20,000 acres in Mariposa County during the summer of last year.
As noted by the Los Angeles Times, the Northern California blaze claimed no lives, but three firefighters were injured, and thousands of residents had to be evacuated. The fire, which started on July 22nd near the Midpines community, continued to rage until early August, when it was finally contained by a force of 2,000 firefighters. The blaze posed a significant challenge due to the combination of extreme heat, low humidity, and dried-out vegetation.
Wackerman has been arrested on charges of aggravated arson, arson causing great bodily harm, and arson resulting in damage to occupied dwellings. The Mariposa Gazette highlights that the investigation and subsequent arrest were made possible through the joint efforts of Cal Fire, the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, and various other agencies. Authorities are withholding specific details about the fire’s ignition method, but they intend to reveal more during an upcoming news conference scheduled for Tuesday. (For more stories about forest fires, click here.)
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