Man Charged in 10,000-Acre Gann Fire Had Prior Arson Conviction

Herbert Wayne Smith, 65, was arrested for allegedly sparking the Gann fire, which has burned 10,000 acres in Calaveras County and killed at least one person. CAL FIRE says he operated spark-producing equipment without clearing flammable vegetation as required. Smith pleaded no contest to a similar 2018 offense and received probation — since expired, with no post-probation monitoring on record.