T he Day fire brought Frazier Park and nearby areas to a standstill. Many residents fled the area as smoke and ash filled the sky. Businesses suffered.
But the U.S. Attorney's Office has announced that someone will finally be held accountable for the massive blaze that began Sept. 4, 2006, burned more than 162,000 acres and cost millions of dollars to fight.
Steven Emory Butcher, 48, was arrested Monday after being indicted on eight charges, including two counts of starting fires that created embers that caused wildfires.
Butcher, who is homeless, faces a maximum penalty of 12 years in prison and $530,000 in fines, along with restitution for fire suppression and damage to natural resources, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph O. Johns said. Firefighting costs were more than $78 million and the damage to natural resources will easily top that figure, Johns said.
While the fire never actually entered Kern County, it had a profound effect on some of the county's southernmost residents.
Kristen Rodriguez, owner of Frazier Park Nursery Florist & Feed, said the town shut down for days as residents left because of the horrible air quality and the danger that the fire would continue to creep closer.
"It was so smoky out here it was hard to breath," Rodriguez said. "I bought masks at a hardware store and passed them out to shop owners near me."
Rodriguez, who lives in Pinon Pines, eventually closed up shop and stayed home for several days waiting for conditions to improve. She didn't evacuate because firemen were stationed outside her home.
"I figured if the firemen left I would get out," she said.
Frazier Park resident Brad Kramer said he's glad Butcher is in custody so he can't do any more damage. Kramer said his wife stayed with family outside Frazier Park for several days during the fire. He stayed home with seven dogs, a duffel bag packed in his car in case he had to make a speedy getaway.
"Fortunately we didn't lose any property, but it scared the hell out of my wife," Kramer said.
Butcher also is accused of causing the 2002 Ellis fire that burned 70 acres in Piru Canyon, where the Day fire also began, according to the U.S. Attorney's office. He was one of 10 people and companies charged in relation to wildfires that burned hundreds of thousands of acres of national forest land across Southern California.
None of the cases accuse the defendants of arson.
Kern County Fire Capt. Doug Johnston said he was happy to hear Butcher and others were indicted for destruction they're accused of causing.
"This is going a long way to put the message out that we're going to hold people accountable for what are termed 'accidents,'" Johnston said.
While the people charged may not have intended to start fires, it doesn't excuse their negligence, Johnston said. Californians need to be aware that fire is something they need to be exceptionally careful with because the climate is right for a small blaze to quickly spark out of control, he said.
"There's no excuse when there's millions of dollars in property damage and, in some instances, people dying," Johnston said.
Johns, the assistant U.S. attorney, said Butcher's arrest should help bring closure to those who lost structures to the Day fire. He hopes the charges brought Monday help educate the public about fire safety and the consequences of flouting regulations.
Johns declined to comment on other news organizations' reports that Butcher is mentally ill.
A magistrate judge in a federal court in Los Angeles has ordered Butcher to be held without bond pending further hearings. His next court date is scheduled for Monday.
Story so far
• Sept. 4, 2006: The Day fire began in Piru Canyon. Within six days, it burned more than 15,000 acres in the Los Padres and Angeles National forests.
• Sept. 11-12: The fire closed Interstate 5 and burned nearly 20,000 acres.
• Sept. 18: More than 80,000 acres were burned and more than 2,000 firefighters battled the blaze. The Ventura County Sheriff's Office issued a recommended evacuation for Lockwood Valley Road between Highway 33 and Frazier Park Road. Highway 33 was closed from Fairview to Wheeler Gorge and Pyramid Lake, Hungry Valley State Recreational Area, Oak Flat area, Golden Hill Road and Smoky Bear Road at Interstate 5 also were closed.
• Sept. 23: The fire was 40 percent contained and had burned 120,816 acres.
• Sept. 26: Emergency personnel recommended residents in Pine Mountain Club and surrounding areas evacuate.
• Sept. 27: The fire had burned nearly 149,000 acres.
• Sept. 30: The fire was 87 percent contained and had burned more than 162,000 acres.
• Oct. 2: The blaze was fully contained. It burned more than 162,000 acres and cost more than $78 million to fight.
• Aug. 6, 2007: Steven Emory Butcher, a homeless man, was arrested on suspicion of starting the Day fire.