Body found in Shasta County’s Bully wildfire

A body was discovered Wednesday within a burned area of the raging Bully wildfire, which started last week in Shasta County when an alleged marijuana grower’s truck drove over dry grass, authorities said.

The victim, who hasn’t been identified, appears to have been attempting to flee the burn area Friday, according to authorities with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The body was found near a home north of Platina Road, near where fire officials said the nearly 11,000-acre blaze started at 3:37 p.m. Friday.

Shasta County Sheriff’s Department and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection officials are investigating the victim’s cause of death.

Authorities arrested 37-year-old Alexander Smoke III of Sacramento on suspicion of marijuana cultivation and recklessly causing the fire after they said his truck’s exhaust system made contact with dry grass and ignited it.

He was taken into custody at a marijuana growing site, where they seized 180 plants.

The Bully fire, which is 47% contained, has destroyed 18 structures and resulted in 13 injuries.

CalFire officials said the high-elevation fire has continued to burn timber and heavy brush.

Although mandatory evacuation orders have been lifted, an advisory remained in effect for homes in the Sunny Hill Road.

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