Damin Anthony Pashilk, 40, was arrested Monday, Aug. 15, 2016, in connection to the setting a wildfire burning in Lake County and other fires, Cal Fire said.

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A man was arrested Monday in connection to starting a 4,000-acre wildfire in Lake County that has destroyed more than 175 structures.Damin Anthony Pashilk, 40, was booked into Lake County Jail on 17 counts of arson. Cal Fire said he is suspected of setting “numerous fires in Lake County over the past year” and is implicated in the Clayton Fire.“The residents of Lake County have experienced senseless loss and endured significant hardship over the past year,” Cal Fire Director Chief Ken Pimlott said in a news release. “Mr. Pashilk committed a horrific crime and we will seek prosecution to the fullest extent of the law. My thoughts continue to be with the people of Lake County during this difficult time."Pimlott said the blaze in the town of Lower Lake has left dozens of families homeless, caused more than $10 million in damages and cost more than $5 million to fight.Lake County Sheriff Brian Martin made the announcement Monday night during a meeting at the Twin Pine Casino and Resort, which is an evacuation center for those forced to leave their homes due to the wildfire. The motive behind the arson was not released.The blaze, dubbed the Clayton Fire, remains 5 percent contained and threatens about 1,500 structures, Cal Fire spokesperson Daniel Berlant said.“We know this is a destructive fire," Berlant said. "Firefighters worked so hard all night long trying to defend structures. Hundreds of homes are still standing because of the efforts of firefighters.”Gov. Jerry Brown issued a state of emergency proclamation Monday for Lake County because of the wildfire.More than 1,000 fire personnel are battling the wildfire, which was set around 6 p.m. Saturday on Clayton Creek Road off of Highway 29, south of Lower Lake.“It looks very sporadic -- this home is saved, that home is burned," Berlant said. "A lot of that has to do with luck (and) where are the embers raining down. It also has to do with what type of material those homes are made with.”Conditions are calmer Monday, but temperatures are expected to climb later in the day as the region remains dry, Berlant said.The fire is burning in the middle of where three wildfires -- the Rocky Fire, the Jerusalem Fire and the Valley Fire -- devastated the region within three months in 2015.“It doesn’t matter if there is one home or 2,000 homes. We do this job to protect life and property," Berlant said. "We worked very hard all last year to keep this community safe and the communities around it safe. And then to see last night: this fire to be able to come in here and burned what was saved prior is very hard to see.”The Rocky Fire sparked in July and burned nearly 70,000 acres in Yolo and Colusa counties and destroyed 43 homes. It was ignited by a faulty water heater.One month later, the Jerusalem Fire scorched more than 25,000 acres in Lake and Napa counties and destroyed 6 homes.In September, the Valley Fire, which became the third most destructive wildfire in California history, charred 76,000 acres and 1,281 homes. It ignited due to faulty wiring in a hot tub.Investigators did not comment on whether or not Pashlik was responsible for the Jerusalem Fire, which is still under investigation.Evacuation InformationMandatory evacuations are in place for the following roads in Middletown and Lower Lake:Spruce Grove Road North to Old Spruce Grove Road, Clayton Creek Road, Cantwell Ranch Road, Morgan Valley Road, Riata Road, Teklas Road Hale, Daly Hill, Teklas, Spruce Grove Road to Noble Ranch Road, Morgan Valley Road to mile marker 7.1, Stahle Road, Ellen Springs, Bonham Road, Quarter Horse Lake and the Chapman Tract area east of Highway 53 in "The Avenues," officials said.Hundreds of Lake County residents are in limbo as they wait to learn when they can go home.“I just feel bad. I feel scared and lost and you know," evacuee Trish Lewis said. "You don’t know if you’re going to a home. You don’t know, if you have a home. You know hundreds of people around you have lost everything and you just feel helpless."Three evacuation centers have been set up at Kelseyville High School in Kelseyville,Twin Pine Casino in Middletown and Seventh Day Adventist Church in Lakeport.Officials closed the evacuation center at Clearlake’s Highland Senior Center because of a power outage.School ClosuresClasses are canceled for the week of Aug. 15 through Aug. 19 for all Konocti Unified School District sites because of the fire.The district said the schools affected by the closure include Burns Valley Elementary, East Lake Elementary, Lower Lake Elementary, Pomo Elementary, Lower Lake High School, Lewis Center, Blue Heron School, Carlé High School, Highlands Academy, Konocti Education Center and Clearlake Creativity School.The district will release more information on when classes will continue next week on or by Friday, Aug. 19.Stay with KCRA for updates.