Birthday scrap-cutting sparks Gann Fire; man says it was an accident
A 65-year-old Valley Springs man, Herbert Wayne Smith, says he did not intend to start the Gann Fire in Calaveras County while cutting scraps for money. He was arrested on charges including recklessly causing a fire and related offenses. The blaze has burned more than 9,000 acres, prompted evacuations and a local emergency, and containment efforts are underway as federal funding supports the response; nearby schools closed temporarily due to smoky air amid ongoing investigations.