Big Sur’s Dolan Fire: Shirtless, ranting man admitted arson, witnesses say
MONTEREY COUNTY, CA (KSBW) — Big Sur’s devastating Dolan Fire was started intentionally by a worker at an illegal marijuana grow who ignited dry grass with a Bic lighter, investigators say.
Details were made public Thursday at a preliminary hearing for the accused arsonist, Ivan Geronimo Gomez, 30, of Fresno.
The Dolan Fire, which started Aug. 18, has burned 125,000 acres (195 square miles) and destroyed 14 homes and six other structures. Three firefighters were injured on Sept. 8 when their position was overtaken by flames, and one has been in a hospital’s burn unit since then.
The Dolan was one of a number of large wildfires reported in Northern California Aug. 16-18 — but, unlike the others, it was not started by lightning, investigators said. Rangers responding to reports of flames near Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park said they encountered the defendant — shirtless, throwing rocks at vehicles and making bizarre statements.
Gomez reportedly had three lighters in his possession and admitted to starting the fire, one of the parks employees said at the hearing.
Gomez’s attorney, Deputy Public Defender Mike Belter, contended that without his client’s alleged confession prosecutors had no evidence connecting him to the fire.
Countered prosecutor Meredith Sillman: “He was found with lighters on his person, he was in a remote area, he was in the area to start the fire. And so I think all of the circumstantial evidence around and in addition to his statements showed that he had started this fire.”
Investigators said Gomez was part of an illegal marijuana growing operation that had roughly 1,500 plants.
When emergency crews arrived, Gomez reportedly claimed to have killed several people at the marijuana camp. So far, no human remains have been found, a Monterey County sheriff’s detective said in court.
In a new development, PETA has sent a letter to district attorney Jeannine Pacioni urging her to file animal cruelty charges against Gomez for any wildlife that may have died as a result of his alleged actions. Sheriff’s investigator Bryon Hoskins testified that 11 condors that had tracking devices are unaccounted for. It’s unknown if they died.
For now, Gomez has been charged with six felony counts of aggravated arson, arson of a structure or forest, arson causing injury to a firefighter, throwing objects at a vehicle and cultivation of marijuana.
After the preliminary hearing, judge Pam Butler ordered Gomez to stand trial on all charges.
A conviction on the aggravated arson charge alone could land Gomez in prison for life.
He’s scheduled to be arraigned on the charges on December 16.
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