Man arrested for starting the Clayton Fire and numerous others

(Originally published at 8:55 p.m. PDT August 15, 2016. Updated at 7:46 a.m. PDT August 16 with a list of charges against him and an updated mug shot.)

A man has been arrested for starting the Clayton Fire and numerous others.

Below is an excerpt from an article in The San Francisco Chronicle:

County officials arrested a 40-year-old Clear Lake man Monday on 17 counts of arson related to numerous fires set over the last year, including the 4,000-acre Clayton Fire that has so far claimed 175 buildings and displaced hundreds of people.

Damin Anthony Pashilk
Damin Anthony Pashilk

Lake County Sheriff Brian Martin and Cal Fire Chief Ken Pimlott announced the arrest of Damin Pashilk at a community meeting packed with evacuees at a casino doubling as a Red Cross shelter south of the blaze. Residents gasped at the announcement.

Chief Pimlott said Mr. Pashilk had been under investigation for about a year. The charges were enhanced because homes and businesses were destroyed. He has been arrested at least a dozen times before mostly for parole violations, but also on drug and weapons charges.

He was arrested at 4:30 p.m. on August 15 and booked into jail at 12:58 am. August 16. For now he has been charged with:

  1. Arson: structure/forest land
  2. Arson sentence enhancement
  3. Aggravated arson with prior

The sentence enhancement is applicable if homes or businesses were destroyed.

Brian Hickey of KCRA News reports that “aggravated arson with prior” means he has been convicted of arson in the last 10 years.

Bail has been set at $5 million.

The Clayton Fire started Saturday evening and around mid-day on Sunday changed direction after the wind shifted and spread quickly into Lower Lake, California.

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Author: Bill Gabbert

After working full time in wildland fire for 33 years, he continues to learn, and strives to be a Student of Fire.

One thought on “Man arrested for starting the Clayton Fire and numerous others”

  1. I have a question-

    Damin Anthony Pashilk.

    where is he at right now- I have some surgeries due but I want to interview him personally- if not him- his wife Jennie. I am serious. Who is his attorney? If his attorney gets hash tagged to this comment; I have never been more serious in my entire life; call me. (480) 280-5813. I never would ever visit a person in the system aka prison but I have to see his take on this for myself- I have to be point blank blunt and that I am not on board to believe what is being fed in the media just because it was written or reported– I want to hear his take on it- and has YCSO picked up their phone and got involved and tried to interview this man for their investigation of Tenderfoot fire?

    Wow.
    Shaking my head.

    recent wildfire victims- be mindful on your anger on this fella and the current vent- until further details surface and you get to HEAR this fella…his side…

    and I hope those “missing elements” see this latest report…

    “shaking my head”

    if anyone has this guy’s lawyers name- I want to meet in person with him.

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