Man faces manslaughter, marijuana charges stemming from Bully fire
A suspected marijuana farmer faces an involuntary manslaughter charge after a body was found at a massive Shasta County wildfire ignited by his vehicle’s exhaust system.
Freddie Alexander Smoke III, 37, also faces three counts of recklessly causing a fire and one count of marijuana cultivation, according to the Shasta County district attorney’s office.
Authorities discovered a man’s body July 16 near a home in the vicinity of Platina and Bully Choop roads, within the burn area of the 12,661-acre Bully wildfire.
The victim, who has not been identified, appears to have been attempting to flee the burn area, according to authorities with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Smoke was arrested July 11 at a marijuana-growing site, where 180 plants were seized.
The Bully fire destroyed 20 structures and resulted in 21 injuries.
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