Friday, July 15, 2016

"Prosecutors seek $25 million from Saudi businessman over 2013 wildfire in Riverside County"

LAT:
The federal government sued a Riverside County homeowner, alleging that his negligent maintenance led to a 27,500-acre wildfire in 2013 that destroyed more than 20 buildings and forced thousands of residents to evacuate.

In a lawsuit filed Thursday in federal court, prosecutors from the U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles contend that an electrical box on Tarek M. Al-Shawaf’s 20-acre property shot sparks, igniting what was dubbed the Mountain fire.