Ex-firefighter accused of starting wildfire in Northern California

A former firefighter charged with setting a Northern California wildfire that left one person dead and destroyed hundreds of structures has been ordered to stand trial for homicide and other charges.

The Record Searchlight in Redding reports a judge concluded after a day-long hearing on Wednesday that Shasta County prosecutors have enough evidence to try 29-year-old Zane Wallace Peterson in connection with the September 2013 Clover Fire and six other arson fires he is charged with igniting with waterproof matches last fall.

The evidence includes footage from surveillance cameras that allegedly captured Peterson’s truck near the two locations where the 13-square-mile Clover Fire started.

Peterson has pleaded not guilty.

The Record Searchlight says he spent seven years working as a for the U.S. Forest Service firefighter in the Mendocino National Forest until he was fired for theft in 2012.