Holy Fire: Arson Suspected As Flames Inch Closer To Elsinore

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — As firefighters work to keep flames at bay in the large Holy Fire, national forest officials say a man has been arrested on suspicion of intentionally setting the blaze. Forrest Gordon Clark, 51, was held on $1 million bail Wednesday at an Orange County jail.

The U.S. Forest Service said Clark was booked on suspicion of two counts of felony arson, one count of felony threat to terrorize, and one count of misdemeanor resisting arrest.

The fire started Monday but was only 5 percent contained as of Wednesday morning, according to sheriff's records and fire officials.

The Orange County Register reported that Clark lives in a cabin in the Holy Jim area. Volunteer Fire Chief Mike Milligan, who also lives in the area, told the paper that Clark has long feuded with a neighbor and other cabin owners. He ran through the area last week screaming, and sent Milligan an email warning that "this place will burn," Milligan said.

Clark is tentatively expected to appear in court Thursday, according to the forest service.

The Holy Fire is being fed by thick, tinder-dry brush that hasn't burned in nearly four decades.

The fire was reported about 1:15 p.m. Monday near Holy Jim Canyon and Trabuco Creek roads, Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Tony Bommarito said.

On Tuesday, the size of the fire had been listed at 3,399 acres, but it increased in size near the Horsethief Canyon area, authorities said Wednesday. Now it has jumped the North Main Divide dirt road, so now it is in the Lake Elsinore area, Bommarito said.

Voluntary evacuation warnings were issued for parts of Lake Elsinore as a result.

The latest estimates from the U.S. Forest Service put the Holy Fire at 4,129 acres in size as of 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

ALSO SEE:

• 26 Incredible Images Of The Holy Fire
  
• Voluntary Evacuations Expand In Elsinore, RivCo For Holy Fire

Booking photo via U.S. Forest Service / City News Service contributed to this report