Clear Lake Man Accused Of Setting Clayton Fire, Other Lake County Blazes
LAKE COUNTY (CBS) — A Clear Lake man is arrested and charged with arson in connection to the devastating Clayton Fire in Lake County.
Damin Pashilk, 40, is accused of starting the Clayton Fire which has burned 175 structures, 4,000 acres, and forced hundreds from their homes. The fire is 5 percent contained.
The fire severely damaged Lower Lake Elementary School forcing Konocti Unified School District to close for the remainder of the week.
RELATED: Lower Lake Methodist Church Building Destroyed By Clayton Fire, But Not Faith
Meanwhile, Pashilk is also accused of 16 other counts of arson relating to "many other" fires in Lake County.
"The suspect is in jail tonight. That's what is important," said Ken Pimlott the Cal Fire chief.
Pimlott and Lake County Sheriff Brian Martin announced Pashilk's arrest to a crowd at an evacuation station in Middletown.
"It makes me angry," said Michelle Waller, an evacuee, "so angry."
Waller was forced from her home several times last year and most recently for the Clayton Fire. She lives with her wheelchair-bound son and other family members near Lower Lake.
"Our neighbors lost everything," said Waller tearing up, "we just don't know."
She says her family fears fires and are torn by the mental stress of not knowing if their possessions and animals are OK.
"We've been packing and leaving and packing and leaving."
The sheriff's department is investigating if Pashilk had his hands in three major fires last year in Lake county including the Jerusalem, Rocky and Valley fires. They burned thousands of acres, destroyed nearly 1,300 homes and left four people dead.
"He was being investigated over the course of the last year," said Pimlott.
Cal Fire did not specify which fires Pashilk is tied to, only confirming his charges with the Clayton Fire.
Pashilk is being held on $5 million bail.