FRESNO (KMJ) — A man from Mexico has pleaded guilty to starting the Cedar Fire, and he now faces a multi-million dollar charge for restitution.
The total amount demanded by the court – $61 million dollars – represents efforts to recover the costs spent fighting last month’s blaze.
It consumed 29,332 acres of land in both Kern and Tulare Counties. It has also destroyed at least six homes.
The fire began on August 16th, the date when prosecutors say Angel Gilberto Garcia-Avalos, from Michoacán in Mexico, was driving off road in Sequoia National Forest.
They state that his car got stuck, and while trying to free it the vehicle’s muffler and catalytic convertor came into contact with the grass and sparked the fire.
In sentencing, Judge Thurston noted that the 29 year old demonstrated “significant negligence” and took no action to help after the fire started.
He’s now set to spend 13 months in prison: six months for starting the fire and seven months for making false statements to U.S Forest Service law enforcement officers.
