Advertisement Soberanes Fire caused by illegal unattended campfire, Cal Fire says Share Shares Copy Link Copy

The massive Soberanes Fire was caused by someone who lit an illegal campfire, Cal Fire unit chief Brennan Blue said Tuesday.The wildfire sparked in Garrapata State Park on July 22 before it burned more than 45,000 acres, destroyed 57 homes, and led to the death of a bulldozer operator on Green Ridge. It's California's largest and most destructive wildfire of 2016.NEW WILDFIRE MAP: August 3The illegal, 2-foot by 2-foot campfire was left unattended just off the Soberanes Canyon Trail, Cal Fire said at a Tuesday press conference.Whoever lit the campfire came to a fork in the trail and followed the path that leads into a thick redwood forest -- not up the steep ridge trail that goes up the mountain -- about 2 1/4 miles east from Highway 1, Blue said. The person built the campfire at a scenic spot where Soberanes Creek intersects with another creek and forms a waterfall.PHOTOS: Most dramatic photos of the Soberanes FireProsecutors are considering filing criminal charges if a suspect is identified.Monterey County District Attorney Dean Flippo said if an arrest is made, the person could be charged with negligence and manslaughter, because bulldozer operator Robert Oliver Reagan III was killed while fighting the Soberanes Fire.The father of two suffered fatal injuries when his bulldozer rolled July 26 in the Green Ridge community, where flames leveled homes and left steep terrain looking like a moonscape.Flippo said investigators have some leads, but no suspects have been identified so far.Cal Fire asked for the public's help, and asked any potential witnesses to come forward. Anyone with information is asked to call Cal Fire on its hotline, 1-800-468-4408.The first witnesses who saw the wildfire when it was still just a few acres were delayed in reaching 911 emergency dispatchers because they were unable to get cellphone service, Blue said. The hikers were eventually able to find a cellphone tower's signal to alert authorities.Investigators have ruled out the hikers as potential suspects. They also ruled out the two groups of illegal marijuana growers who were rescued last week. The growers, who told deputies that they were "hikers" and got "lost," were too far away from the wildfire's origin to be considered suspects, investigators said.State Parks had signs posted at Soberanes Canyon Trail's trailhead stating that camping and campfires are illegal in the area.Cal Fire Chief Richard Lopez said the "devastating" wildfire was preventable if people followed state park rules, especially in remote areas."It was so far back there that by the time it was called in, it was already a well-established fire. Lost property, loss of life, it's a horrible event," Lopez said.Cal Fire said containment was at 25 percent August 3, and full containment is not expected until August 31.The wildfire grew by more than 2,500 acres overnight into Tuesday morning as it spread mostly on the southeast end. As a worst-case scenario, firefighters said the Soberanes Fire could potentially swell to as large as 165,000 acres.Mandatory evacuations:Palo Colorado neighborhood. The Rancho San Carlos community, between Canter Run and Garzas Trail in Carmel Valley. Robinson Canyon Road between San Clemente Trail and White Rock Gun Club. The area south of San Clemente Trail between Robinson Canyon Road and the Rancho San Clemente Gate House. Arroyo Sequoia Road. Weston Ridge Road. Garrapatos Road. Cachagua Road at Nason Road, extending to the intersection of Cachagua Road at Tassajara Road. Tassajara Road at the intersection of East Carmel Valley Road and Tassajara Road at the Tassajara Hot Springs Zen Center.Pre-evacuation warnings:White Rock, San Clemente, Touche Pass, Old Coast Road south of Bixby Creek Road to Little Sur River, North of San Clemente Trail / Dormody Road.READ: Rumors wrongly blame sea otters for Soberanes FireREAD: Bulldozer operator Robert Oliver Reagan killedREAD: Community meeting in Carmel Valley calms some fearsREAD: Salinas, Santa Cruz, Monterey air quality loweredWATCH: New terrain burned by Soberanes FireREAD: Firefighters cut five lines around Carmel Valley