0LOS ANGELES: A man was arrested and charged with arson Monday for starting a massive wildfire in northern California that has destroyed 175 buildings and forced thousands to flee to safety. State firefighting agency Cal Fire said Pashilk was suspected of setting “numerous fires” in Lake County over the past year. “The residents of Lake County have experienced senseless loss and endured significant hardship over the past year,” Cal Fire Chief Ken Pimlott said in a statement. Only five percent of the blaze, located more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) north of San Francisco, has been contained. More than 175 homes and businesses have been destroyed since the fire broke out around 5:00 p.m. on Saturday (0000 GMT Sunday).

Source: Manila Times August 16, 2016 08:24 UTC