THOUSAND OAKS : D.A. Won’t Charge Transient Over Fire
Dist. Atty. Michael D. Bradbury announced Wednesday that no charges will be filed against a 20-year-old transient for apparently causing a Oct. 30 brush fire that scorched 150 acres on Cresthaven Drive in Thousand Oaks.
The fire was started by the heat from a pickup truck driven by Billy Ray Houser after he gunned the engine in an attempt to free it from the brush, according to a statement from Bradbury’s office.
Because there is no evidence that Houser knew the danger of his actions, the district attorney decided not to charge him with arson or reckless burning, the statement said.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
