A 48-year-old transient camping in the old Clear Creek area was jailed on a trespassing charge after a camp fire he admitted setting caused a quarter-acre fire on Saturday.
Raymond A. Fenners who set up a camp near the creek bottom was arrested by Washoe tribal police and charged with trespassing. He was incarcerated in Douglas County Jail. on $5,000 bail.
The fire was reported about 3:30 p.m. Saturday, and units responded from the tribe, Carson City Fire Department, Carson City and Douglas County sheriff's offices, East Fork Fire District and the Bureau of Land Management.
According to reports, tribal officers found Fenners' driver's license at the fire and arrested him Sunday when they returned to the camp.
He is to appear Wednesday in East Fork Justice Court.
"Homeless people camp there because it's relatively close to an urban setting where they can get things they need. They will build fires for warming and cooking," said East Fork Fire Capt. Terry Taylor, fire investigator and inspector.
"The wind kicked up big time Saturday and got this smoldering fire going. There's a huge potential for more problems," he said.
The area is near the Carson City/Douglas County border.
