Pollock Pines man arrested for starting King Fire; Bail set at $10,000,000

Wayne Allen Huntsman, 37. was arrested Wednesday on felony charges of Arson on Forest land with a Special Allegation of Arson with Aggravating Factors. Law enforcement officials held a press conference Thursday at the Cal Fire base in Camino, announcing the arrest.

Huntsman is being held in lieu of $10 million bail.

Arraignment is scheduled for Friday, September 19, 2014, at 1:00 p.m. in Department 7 of the El Dorado County Superior Court in Placerville.

The criminal complaint filed by District Attorney Vern Pierson accused Huntsman as being the person "who did willfully and maliciously set fire to and burn, and cause to be burned, forest land located in and around Pollock Pines, California, to wit:
the fire known as the King Fire."

The aggravating factors are due to the fact that a "A firefighter, peace officer, or other emergency personnel suffered great bodily injury as a result of the offense." He also has previous convictions for assault with a deadly weapon and grand theft. He is a former resident of Aptos, CA.