San Andreas, CA…CAL FIRE Law Enforcement Officers arrested Herbert Wayne Smith, 65, of Valley Springs, on Monday, August 3, 2026, following an origin and cause investigation into the Gann Fire in Calaveras County. The investigation determined that Smith was responsible for recklessly causing the Gann Fire, which ignited on August 3, 2026, in a rural area southeast of New Hogan Lake.
The fire has burned approximately 9,363 acres, currently is at 10% containment and remains in active status.Smith was arrested for California Penal Code § 452(c) – Recklessly Causing a Fire.The investigation revealed Smith was operating equipment capable of producing sparks in vegetation without complying with the fire prevention requirements of California Public Resources Code § 4427, which requires individuals using spark-producing equipment near wildland to clear flammable vegetation around the work area and maintain required firefighting tools.
The investigation also found violations of Public Resources Code § 4422(b), which prohibits allowing a fire to escape from a person’s control and spread beyond the property where it originated. The case has been submitted to the Calaveras County District Attorney’s Office for review and prosecution.
The arrest and investigation were conducted by CAL FIRE’s Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit Law Enforcement Officers with assistance from the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office.
CAL FIRE reminds the public to remain vigilant and immediately report suspicious activity related to wildfires. If you observe suspicious persons, vehicles, or activities before, during, or after a fire, safely document as much information as possible, including photographs, video recordings, vehicle descriptions, and license plate numbers when feasible.
Anyone with information regarding the cause of a wildfire is encouraged to contact the CAL FIRE Arson Hotline at (800) 468-4408. Callers may remain anonymous.
Valley Springs Man Arrested for Starting Now 10,000 Acre Gann Fire added by admin on
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Enough of this, 1st a homeless man in Sonora starts the so called DOVE FIRE, NOW THIS IRRESPONSIBLE JOKER IN VALLEY SPRINGS GETS THE SO CALLED GANN FIRE GOING,MAYBE MILLIONS SPENT ON THEM, IT WOULD BE CHEAPER TO HOUSE ALL THESE HOMELESS IDIOTS A COT AND ALL THE C’S YOU CAN EAT, NOTHING SPECIAL A COT AND YOU DONT LEAVE, PERIOD! TTHE VALLEY SPRINGS GUY HAS ALREADY POSTED BAIL, HE CLAIMS HE WAS TRYING TO MAKE $TO TAKE HIS WIFE OUT FOR DINNER, DINNER/. MAKING BAIL, WHAT THE HELL, SOMETHING DOESNT ADD UP, THE REST OF US SIT AND WAIT TO SEE IF WE WILL BURN, EVACUATE, IN THE MEANTIME FIRE INSURANCE IS CANCELED DUE TO THESE RECKLESS HUMAN BEINGS! THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR ALL THIS S—-T, IN THE MEANTIME 1 MALE CAL-FIRE LIFER ZOOMING AROUND IN BRAND NEW TAXPAYER PAID FOR PICK-UPS, WHO IS REALLY FIGHTING THIS FIRE, ITS BURNING WHILE ALL THESE PICKUPS ARE IN A BIG HURRY TO GET WHERE? No wonder why any 18 YR OLD WANTS TO BE A CAL-FIRE BOY!