LAKE ELSINORE, CA — As firefighters work to keep flames at bay in the large Holy Fire, national forest officials say a man has been arrested on suspicion of intentionally setting the blaze. Forrest Gordon Clark, 51, was held on $1 million bail Wednesday at an Orange County jail.
The U.S. Forest Service said Clark was booked on suspicion of two counts of felony arson, one count of felony threat to terrorize, and one count of misdemeanor resisting arrest.
The fire started Monday but was only 5 percent contained as of Wednesday morning, according to sheriff's records and fire officials.
The Orange County Register reported that Clark lives in a cabin in the Holy Jim area. Volunteer Fire Chief Mike Milligan, who also lives in the area, told the paper that Clark has long feuded with a neighbor and other cabin owners. He ran through the area last week screaming, and sent Milligan an email warning that "this place will burn," Milligan said.
Clark is tentatively expected to appear in court Thursday, according to the forest service.
LAKE ELSINORE, CA — As firefighters work to keep flames at bay in the large Holy Fire, national forest officials say a man has been arrested on suspicion of intentionally setting the blaze. Forrest Gordon Clark, 51, was held on $1 million bail Wednesday at an Orange County jail.
The U.S. Forest Service said Clark was booked on suspicion of two counts of felony arson, one count of felony threat to terrorize, and one count of misdemeanor resisting arrest.
The fire started Monday but was only 5 percent contained as of Wednesday morning, according to sheriff's records and fire officials.
The Orange County Register reported that Clark lives in a cabin in the Holy Jim area. Volunteer Fire Chief Mike Milligan, who also lives in the area, told the paper that Clark has long feuded with a neighbor and other cabin owners. He ran through the area last week screaming, and sent Milligan an email warning that "this place will burn," Milligan said.
Clark is tentatively expected to appear in court Thursday, according to the forest service.
...On Tuesday, the size of the fire had been listed at 3,399 acres, but it increased in size near the Horsethief Canyon area, authorities said Wednesday. Now it has jumped the North Main Divide dirt road, so now it is in the Lake Elsinore area, Bommarito said.
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