Authorities Lack Evidence to Arrest `Person of Interest' in Tahoe wildfire
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Updated: 6:17 AM Jun 22, 2009
Authorities Lack Evidence to Arrest `Person of Interest' in Tahoe wildfire
Investigators say they lack evidence to arrest a "person of interest" in a 2007 catastrophic wildfire on Lake Tahoe's south shore, but the case remains a high priority.
Posted: 1:59 PM Jun 20, 2009
Reporter: Associated Press
Email Address: news@kolov.com
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SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. (AP) - Investigators say they lack evidence to arrest a "person of interest" in a 2007 catastrophic wildfire on Lake Tahoe's south shore, but the case remains a high priority.

Wednesday marks the two-year anniversary of the blaze that destroyed 254 homes, caused $140 million in property damage and
scorched 3,100 acres.

Bill Dillard, an investigator with the El Dorado County (Calif.) district attorney's office, says he continues to follow up leads in the case.

Investigators think the Angora fire was caused by sparking embers from a campfire at a popular party spot near South Lake Tahoe, Calif.

But Dillard says they don't have probable cause to make an arrest yet because of a lack of evidence linking the person to the scene.

He says probable cause is hard to establish in wildfires because
evidence is destroyed and witnesses are scarce.

The district attorney's office and U.S. Forest Service have spent hundreds of hours and sorted through hundreds of tips concerning who started the campfire near Seneca Pond.

High winds fanned flames and quickly moved the fire toward homes.

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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