California wildfire authorities have arrested a senior Mariposa County man identified as the suspect responsible for starting the July 2022 Oak fire, which burned more than 19,000 acres of vegetation and more than 125 residential buildings.
Cal Fire said in a Friday statement that 71-year-old Edward Fredrick Wackerman was arrested on multiple felony charges, including suspicion of aggravated arson, arson that caused great bodily injury and arson causing damage or destruction of inhabited structures.
The arrest and investigation into the matter were conducted by Cal Fire law enforcement officers, the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Forest Service law enforcement, the National Park Service’s law enforcement, Madera County District Attorney investigators, the Mariposa County District Attorney’s office, the California Department of Justice Attorney General’s office and the FBI.
The Mariposa County District Attorney said Wackerman’s charges carry “serious legal consequences” and that the investigation is under review.
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The Oak fire moved through the Mariposa, California, area on July 23, 2022. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
A related press conference is scheduled for Tuesday morning at the Mariposa County Courthouse.
Cal Fire did not provide any details of what led to the arrest, and no charges have been filed.
A Billings 4AJ helicopter makes a water drop at the Oak fire near Mariposa, California, on July 26, 2022. (DAVID MCNEW/AFP via Getty Images)
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It wasn’t immediately clear whether Wackerman had an attorney to speak on his behalf.
This photo provided by the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office shows 71-year-old Edward Wackerman of Mariposa who was arrested Friday, June 16, 2023, on suspicion of arson that caused great bodily injury and destroyed inhabited buildings. Wackerman was arrested on suspicion of starting a forest fire that destroyed more than 100 homes last year near Yosemite National Park, state fire officials said. (Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office via AP)
The Cal Fire release said the fire occurred in the Midpines area, near Yosemite National Park, tearing through 19,244 acres of vegetation, 127 residential structures and 66 outbuildings.
Charred remains of a home are left after the Oak fire raged through the mountains near Mariposa on Tuesday, July 26, 2022. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The wildfire injured three firefighters, and thousands of people were forced to evacuate.
Firefighters put out hotspots from the Oak fire along Darrah Road near Mariposa on Tuesday, July 26, 2022. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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The agency reminded the public to be vigilant and report suspicious activity to authorities, noting that callers to the Cal Fire arson hotline can remain anonymous.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
