The El Dorado County District Attorney has officially filed criminal complaints against the two men detained for "recklessly" starting the Caldor Fire. 32-year old Travis Shane Smith and 66-year David Scott Smith now face several counts, some with enhanced penalties. One felony count for causing a fire with great bodily injury, one felony count for recklessly causing fire to inhabited structures, one felony count recklessly starting a fire of forest land, one felony count for being in possession of a firearm silencer, and one count for machine gun conversion for a total of 5 counts. It is unclear at this time if the gun charges are connected with the start of the fire. Some of the charges are enhanced for injuring police and fire crews that were called to the scene of the blaze, endangering residents, and for the criminal acts during a time of declared emergency.
Both of the men's bail has been set at $1million each. The Caldor Fire ignited August of 2021 and burned 200,000 acres in El Dorado and Amador and leveled the community of Grizzly Flats. Over 1,000 structures were destroyed and 5 people were injured during the blaze. The El Dorado County District Attorney's Office worked together with the USDA Forest Service, Cal Fire, the California Department of Justice and the Sacramento County District Attorney's Crime Lab to investigate the cause of the Caldor Fire.
Photo: Sacramento News