CA Man Gets 24 Years After Starting Wildfire That Killed 12 Condors

SALINAS, CA — A man who was charged with a 2020 wildfire that killed 12 endangered California condors and seriously injured a firefighter was sentenced to 24 years in state prison, officials said.

Ivan Gomez, 31, was sentenced Wednesday after he was found guilty of starting the fire after growing marijuana illegally in the Los Padres National Forest, where the Big Sur Dolan fire charred 124,924 acres, according to the Monterey County District Attorney's office.

Judge Pamela L. Butler sentenced Gomez to 9 years for arson causing serious injury to a firefighter, a five year enhancement for destroying 14 structures, some of which were homes. He was also sentenced consecutively for each of the additional charges.

On August 18, 2020, state parks officers saw a growing wildfire around 8:15 p.m. that crested a ridge known as "top of the world" in Big Sur. Around the same time, officers saw a man throwing rocks at vehicles on Highway 1.

The man was later identified as Gomez, who told them he had started a fire at a marijuana grow on the other side of the ridge and killed five men.

While officers were able to find the illegal marijuana grow but no other people were found in the area. Gomez was shirtless, sweating and found with multiple lighters on his person when he was taken into custody.

Gomez admitted that he started the fire numerous times.

Several firefighters were injured in the Dolan Fire including a fire captain from the Nacimiento station who sustained serious injuries.