Jesusita Fire in Santa Barbara (LA Times)
SANTA BARBARA -- Two men using weeders to clear brush have been charged with misdemeanors for possibly sparking a massive wildfire that destroyed 80 homes.
Craig Henstine, 50, and Dana Larsen, 45, were using gas-powered weeders to clear brush near a trail where the 8,700-acre Jesusita fire erupted May 5, according to authorities.
The men were charged Thursday with not obtaining permits to use cutting equipment in a high-danger fire area and to ensure they didn't leave any smoldering areas.
Deputy District Attorney Jerry Lulejian did not say whether the men were hired or were working on their own.
The misdemeanor carries a maximum sentence of 90 days in jail and a $25,000 fine, but authorities say they also plan to seek restitution for fire damages and firefighting costs.
An estimate given last May on the cost of fighting the fire was around $12.2 million.
In 2005, the state of California extended the required clearance around homes in an effort to bolster the defensible space needed to protect a house from a wildfire and keep firefighters safe while working in the region.
In Santa Barbara County, officials can also clear brush from unkempt property and charge homeowners for doing so.
Craig Henstine, 50, and Dana Larsen, 45, were using gas-powered weeders to clear brush near a trail where the 8,700-acre Jesusita fire erupted May 5, according to authorities.
The men were charged Thursday with not obtaining permits to use cutting equipment in a high-danger fire area and to ensure they didn't leave any smoldering areas.
Deputy District Attorney Jerry Lulejian did not say whether the men were hired or were working on their own.
The misdemeanor carries a maximum sentence of 90 days in jail and a $25,000 fine, but authorities say they also plan to seek restitution for fire damages and firefighting costs.
An estimate given last May on the cost of fighting the fire was around $12.2 million.
In 2005, the state of California extended the required clearance around homes in an effort to bolster the defensible space needed to protect a house from a wildfire and keep firefighters safe while working in the region.
In Santa Barbara County, officials can also clear brush from unkempt property and charge homeowners for doing so.
