Ex-Inmate Firefighter Admits Sparking Deadly Gann Fire in California
Herbert Wayne Smith, 65, a former inmate firefighter who served in California’s Conservation Camp Program, admitted to starting the Gann Fire in Calaveras County, a blaze that burned thousands of acres and killed Susan Solari, owner of Hinterland German Shepherds. Smith had previously worked as an inmate firefighter and faced prior legal trouble; he told KCRA he was cutting metal scraps to pay for his wife’s birthday and expressed remorse. He was booked on charges including recklessly causing a fire and operating equipment capable of sparking vegetation, though no formal charges have yet been filed.