Gann Fire Suspect Had Prior Arson Conviction

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