Man accused of starting wildfire in Madera County says smoke was from his joint, deputies say

MADERA COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – A antheral accused of starting a wildfire successful Madera County claimed the fume was from his joint, according to the Madera County Sheriff's Office.

Around 3 p.m. Monday, Cal Fire responded to Road 400 adjacent the Adobe Ranch for a reported fire.

A unit leaving the country saw a antheral with binoculars moving to his truck. They said fume was coming from the country from which helium was running.

A lawman spotted the motortruck astir 2 miles southbound of the fire. The operator was pulled implicit and identified arsenic 39-year-old Abel Joel Garcia Zarate of Biola. 

Deputies accidental Zarate told them helium stopped to fume marijuana but got frightened erstwhile helium saw Cal Fire and threw his associated connected the ground. 

However, his statements were inconsistent with witnesses and grounds astatine the scene, according to the sheriff's office. Fire investigators besides determined the occurrence was astir apt a hot-set fire, a occurrence caused by a blistery point that was removed from the scene.

Zarate faces aggregate felony arson charges. His bail is acceptable for $75,000.