Park Fire is Largest Arson Fire in California History
Written by Chriss W. Street
The Park Fire just became the largest Arson Fire and fifth largest fire in California history. As of July 30th, the fire has burned over 383,619 acres and is 14% contained.
Ronnie Dean Stout II, the initiator of the Park Fire, has admitted that he pushed his burning car off a 60-foot embankment into the “Alligator Hole” in Bidwell Park, near Chico, and then ran away. But local witnesses allege he set the car on fire, stuck a rock or a stick on the accelerator, put it in gear, watched it fly off the cliff, then blended in with a crowd to melt away.
Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey told CBS News that wildfire that is now larger than the Los Angeles metroplex was started by Ronnie Dean Stout II, who has two prior “strike felony” convictions and was charged with arson on Monday July 30th.
Stout's prior felony convictions include lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 years of age in 2001 and robbery with great bodily injury in 2002. DA Ramsey has stated that Stout was sentenced to 20 years in state prison under his 2002 conviction.
It is unclear if Stout had his sentenced reduced or received early release after California’s decriminalization reform led to the 2014 passage of Proposition 47. Mountain Top Times reported that the state prison population plummeted 43 percent from 165,000 to 94,600, freeing-up $12 billion from the state’s annual prison budget.
California is one of 24 states, along with the federal government, which enacted a “version of law that increases prison sentences for three-time felons, who have been previously convicted of very serious or violent crimes,” such as Ronnie Dean Stout II.
The ‘Three Strikes You’re Out’ law was passed in 1994 in response to the strangulation of 12-year old Polly Klaas and robbery turned murder of Kimber Reynolds. The law limits the ability of three strike convicted felons to receive a punishment under the California Penal Code that is less than 25 years to life.
With heavy El Nino rainfall drenching Northern California and above-average Sierra snowpack for the second year in a row, 2024 was expected to be a modest wildfire year compared to 2023. The 12,000 full-year members of the CalFire team last year made: 594,971 emergency responses; fought 7,127 wildfires that burned 324,917 acres and caused the deaths of 3 firefighters and a civilian.
CalFire statistics were down in the first seven months of 2024 to just: 347,882 emergency responses; 4,570 wildfires; and about 380,000 total acres burned; and no deaths. The Park Fire has more than this year’s total acres burned and is expected to become the fourth largest fire in California history by Tuesday evening.
Humans cause about 90 percent of all fires. Arson is the single leading cause of fires in the United States with about 267,000 annually, and the second leading cause of fire deaths with about 475 annually. About 50 percent of arson fires occur outdoors, half of arson arrests are juveniles, and poorer communities are 14 times more likely to suffer arson than higher income communities.
Psychologists have published extensive research about arson. The list of reasons behind one off fire-starters includes jealousy, revenge, concealment of another crime and insurance fraud. They also tend to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Criminologists define serial arson as an impulse-control disorder called pyromania. Serial arsonists are; deliberate and purposeful in their actions; tend to live close to their targets; have interest and fascination with fire; experience gratification and relief from fire setting; not interested in monetary or political gain; and do not tend to be suffering a manic episode or an antisocial personality disorder.
The most dangerous pyromaniacs are driven by “excitement of fire-setting, either from the point of view of retreating to a safe distance to blend in with other onlookers, or to become the unwitting hero and make attempts to help with the danger.”