EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. (November 27, 2023) – In a two-day court hearing unfolding in Placerville this week, prosecutors are set to unveil evidence against David and Travis Shane Smith, the father-son duo accused of recklessly igniting the destructive Caldor Fire. The Smiths each face three felony counts of reckless arson along with felony weapons charges in connection to the catastrophic blaze that devastated Grizzly Flats and forced widespread evacuations in the Lake Tahoe region.
The Caldor Fire, which ignited on August 14, 2021, on forest service land, rapidly escalated, engulfing the community of Grizzly Flats and prompting the closure of major highways, including Highway 88 and US 50. The flames surged over Echo Summit, posing a threat to the Lake Tahoe basin, and resulted in the evacuation of South Lake Tahoe and surrounding areas. Over 50,000 people were displaced, and more than 1,000 buildings, predominantly homes, were consumed by the fire.
The prosecution contends that the Smiths recklessly initiated the fire while shooting guns in the forest. However, details surrounding the case have been scant, with El Dorado County prosecutors reserving key information.
The preliminary hearing, akin to a mini-trial, will unfold over two days, where prosecutors must present evidence to convince a judge of probable cause against the Smiths. While the prosecution has been diligently preparing witnesses and evidence, they declined to provide comments ahead of the hearing.
The defense, representing David and Travis Shane Smith, has not responded to interview requests but informed the judge that they do not plan to call any witnesses during this preliminary phase.
Both defendants have pleaded not guilty, asserting their innocence through legal representation. The defense contends that the father and son promptly reported the fire by dialing 911 and alerted others, emphasizing responsible behavior rather than recklessness.
Prosecutors, in arguing for higher bail amounts, have shared information suggesting that the Caldor Fire likely ignited from a projectile discharged from a firearm, leading to heated fragments landing in a dry, fuel-rich environment. Additionally, video evidence allegedly depicts Travis Shane firing incendiary ammunition, deemed illegal in California, at his El Dorado County home.
While court documents indicate a specific brand of incendiary shotgun ammunition designed to start fires, prosecutors have not explicitly stated whether they believe these rounds initiated the Caldor Fire.
In addition to the reckless arson charges, both defendants face charges related to possession of a silencer. Travis Shane Smith faces an additional charge for allegedly using an illegal device to convert a semiautomatic weapon into a machine gun.
The Caldor Fire hearing took a significant turn as Robert Bossard, the first witness, took the stand, providing crucial testimony about the conditions leading up to the devastating wildfire that swept through Northern California in 2021.
“We didn’t have a fire that week,” said Bossard, who had been sharing the campsite with Michael Patrick, known as Miner Mike, and Patrick’s collie.
Bossard detailed his five-day camping experience at the site preceding the fire’s outbreak.
As the preliminary hearing unfolds, the courtroom drama sheds light on a case that gripped a community already scarred by the destructive force of the Caldor Fire.
