California governor declares wildfire state of emergency.
(Reuters) - California Governor Jerry Brown on Friday issued an emergency declaration
for a wildfire burning in the northern part of the state, the same day the man accused
of starting the blaze was charged with arson.
The so-called Ponderosa Fire has burned 3,715 acres (1,503 hectares) and destroyed 30 homes
in Butte County, prompting authorities to issue evacuation orders to residents of some
500 homes in the area, officials said.
It was 40 percent contained on Friday, up from 30 percent the day before.
The blaze is burning east of the town of Oroville, about 85 miles (137 km) north of the state
capital of Sacramento.
The declaration will free up additional resources to battle the blaze, which erupted on Tuesday
from a campfire that was started outside a designated area.
The man charged with starting the fire, John Ballenger, made his first court appearance
in Butte County Superior Court on Friday, District Attorney Michael Ramsey said in a
telephone interview.
Ballenger is charged with two counts of arson and was ordered held on a $1 million bond,
Ramsey said.
Ballenger could face up to seven years and eight months in prison if convicted.
Ballenger was appointed a public defender and is due back in court to enter a plea on
Wednesday.
The public defender's office could not be reached for comment.
Ballenger was camping on property his family owns, Ramsey said.
"He had a campfire burning 24-7," the district attorney said.
Meanwhile, another wildfire broke out on Friday, more than 400 miles (644 km) south of the
Ponderosa blaze, in a north Los Angeles neighborhood.
The 2,000-acre (810 hectare) blaze triggered the closure of a section of the 210 Freeway
as it tore through brush, and authorities also told residents of 200 homes in the area
to evacuate because of approaching flames, said Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman
Margaret Stewart.
In Montana, Governor Steve Bullock on Friday declared a state of disaster due to wildfires
as dozens raged across tens of thousands of acres during one of the worst fire seasons
in state history.
Bone-dry conditions, high winds and triple-digit temperatures pose "an imminent threat" to
residents, Bullock said in the disaster declaration, which would allow the state to mobilize additional
Montana National Guard troops and tap other state resources to combat the blazes.
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