Man says he cut metal for cash, unintentionally igniting 10,000-acre Gann Fire

Herbert Wayne Smith, a 65-year-old resident of Spring Valleys, was arrested after acknowledging that he was using a saw to cut metal scraps for cash to fund a birthday dinner for his wife when the sparks ignited the Gann Fire on Monday. Cal Fire indicated that Smith operated the equipment without clearing surrounding vegetation and without the mandated firefighting tools, breaching California Public Resources Code requirements.

The fire quickly spread across more than 10,000 acres, prompting evacuation orders and endangering homes near Angels Camp as triple-digit temperatures and dry fuels hampered suppression efforts. While containment has gradually improved, fire crews remain on high alert as the heatwave is expected to continue through the weekend. The investigation has been sent to the Calaveras District Attorney’s Office for possible prosecution, but no criminal charges have been filed in Calaveras Superior Court as of Wednesday afternoon. Smith expressed remorse, saying the incident will ruin his life and that he never intended to cause the blaze.