Investigators on Tuesday arrested a 29-year-old man on suspicion of setting the so-called Ponderosa Fire, which has forced residents to evacuate the rural hills above Lake Oroville.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said that the quickly-growing flames have burned 2,500 acres. Ten Butte County homes and 20 outbuildings have been destroyed by the blaze. Five additional houses are damaged.
The Ponderosa Fire, which was estimated at 1,000 acres on Tuesday, more than doubled in size in less than one day, according to Cal Fire.
Flames are threatening an estimated 500 structures and have not been contained at all as of Wednesday morning, Cal Fire said.
The suspect has been identified as John Ballenger, of Oroville.
The man is accused of "recklessly starting a campfire outside a designated campground and allowing it to escape," Cal Fire said in a statement.
An immediate evacuation order was issued for the area of Lumpkin Road from Forbestown Road to Station 51 and all connecting roads, Cal Fire said. An evacuation is in place along Lumpkin Road from the Enterprise Bridge to Lake View Terrace.
Local
Cal Fire, Butte County, San Jose and San Mateo fire crews are battling the blaze, which sparked Tuesday afternoon as a heatwave blanketed much of California. More than 900 personnel are on the scene along with 107 fire engines, 10 helicopters, 10 dozers and 19 water tenders.
The wildfire is burning in the sparsely populated area east of Lake Oroville, about 70 miles north of Sacramento.
