The man accused of starting the Park Fire declined to enter a plea when he was in court for his arraignment on felony charges Monday. 42-year-old Ronnie Stout of Chico is accused of pushing his mother’s burning car into a gully full of dry brush in Upper Bidwell Park last Wednesday, which quickly grew to become an inferno. Cal Fire Arson Investigators made the arrest early Thursday. Stout has spent a lot of time in prison for child molestation, robbery with great bodily injury and more. His current charges could put him behind bars for the rest of his life. Butte Dounty DA Mike Ramsey Says stout doesn’t deny starting the fire, but he claims it was an accident. He’s being held without bail until another arraignment on Thursday.
-Steve Gibson