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Oroville resident arrested for misfire during Thompson Fire

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A man was arrested Tuesday on charges of setting a risky backfire in Butte County while firefighters were responding to the Thompson Fire. The Thompson Fire broke out around 11 a.m. Tuesday near Cherokee Road northeast of Oroville and spread quickly. Hours later that same day, a man was observed setting a backfire on a property off Oro Quincy Highway, Cal Fire reported. A backfire is a technique firefighters use to set a fire along the inside edge of a fire line, consuming fuel in the path of an active fire. The goal is to block the fire’s spread or change its direction. Cal Fire officials responded to the scene and found the man, later identified as 61-year-old Harold Pulley, standing next to a quarter-acre of burned vegetation. Firefighters responded and extinguished the fire. Officials said Pulley admitted to setting the backfire using a propane torch. Cal Fire stated that the backfire Pulley set occurred in an area that posed a significant danger to the public and property. Pulley was booked into the Butte County Jail on a charge of illegal arson in a forested area. For more information on how to safely prepare for a wildfire in California, click here.

OROVILLE, California —

A man was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of starting a dangerous counterfire in Butte County while firefighters were responding to the Thompson Fire.

The Thompson Fire broke out around 11 a.m. Tuesday near Cherokee Road northeast of Oroville and spread quickly.

A few hours later that same day, a man was observed setting a return fire on a property near Oro Quincy Highway, Cal Fire reported.

Backfire is a technique used by firefighters to set a fire along the inside edge of a fire line to burn fuel in the path of an active fire, thereby blocking the spread of the fire or changing its direction.

Cal Fire officials responded and found the man, later identified as 61-year-old Harold Pulley, standing near a quarter-acre of burned vegetation. Firefighters responded and extinguished the fire.

According to officials, Pulley admitted to causing the misfire with a propane torch.

Cal Fire stated that the counter fire set by Pulley occurred in an area that posed a significant hazard to the public and property.

Pulley was booked into the Butte County Jail on suspicion of illegal arson in a wilderness area.

For more information on how to safely prepare for a wildfire in California, click here.

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