MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – A Clearlake man who authorities believe was responsible for setting not just the Clayton fire but many other blazes around Lake County is in custody with a multimillion dollar bail enhancement.
Damin Anthony Pashilk, 40, was arrested Monday on 17 counts of arson, Sheriff Brian Martin said during an evening press conference held at Twin Pine Casino, which is once again doubling as a evacuee shelter.
Pashilk, who according to his booking sheet works in construction, was taken into custody by a Cal Fire law enforcement officer at 4:30 p.m. Monday. The booking process was completed early Tuesday morning, when his booking sheet was posted online at www.lakesheriff.com .
The arrest came as the result of a cooperative effort involving Cal Fire, the Lake County Sheriff's Office and the Lake County District attorney's Office, Cal Fire reported.
The announcement of Pashilk's arrest came hours after Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for the Clayton fire, which by Monday evening had burned 4,000 acres and destroyed 175 structures, damaged critical infrastructure and resulted in 4,000 evacuations. Some 1,500 homes remained threatened on Monday.
The cost to fight the Clayton fire so far is estimated to be $10 million, Cal Fire said.
Chief Ken Pimlott, Cal Fire's director, said Pashilk is believed to be responsible not just for the Clayton fire but a series of fires in Lake County over the past year.
While Pimlott did not detail exactly which fires investigators believe Pashilk had a hand in setting, they don't include the Valley fire.
Last week Cal Fire released its investigative report on the Valley fire, which concluded that faulty electrical wiring for a hot tub at a Cobb home was responsible for sparking that fire on Sept. 12, 2015.
While Pimlott said 95 percent of fires are caused by humans, “it's a tragic day” when the agency identifies someone who purposefully sets fires.
“This is obviously just the beginning” of the case, with Pimlott adding that Cal Fire wants to be a part of the community's process of recovery.
Authorities on Monday did not release information about Pashilk's arrest, where he was found or other details of the case so far.
On hand for the announcement were District Attorney Don Anderson and Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff.
Hinchcliff told Lake County News that he expected to begin receiving the first reports on the case on Tuesday in preparation for charging Pashilk, who is to be arraigned in Lake County Superior Court on Wednesday.
“It's going to be a long process,” said Hinchcliff.
Hinchcliff anticipated that the process will include the review of thousands of pages of investigative reports and evidence as he builds the case against Pashilk.
On Monday, Hinchcliff had few details about Pashilk's criminal background, which he expected to know more about in the days to come.
A brief review of Lake County arrest records showed that Pashilk had numerous previous arrests from 2005 to 2015 for charges related to drugs and firearms, evading a peace officer, driving on a suspended license, bench warrants and parole violations.
In 2009 the Clearlake Police Department issued a report on arresting Pashilk for being a felon in possession of a firearm and for possession of a controlled substance: http://bit.ly/2bjMchL .
Hinchcliff said a Cal Fire investigator sought a bail enhancement for Pashilk from Judge Stephen Hedstrom.
That bail enhancement apparently was granted, according to Martin. Hinchcliff said a case like Pashilk's normally would have $1.5 million bail, but Martin confirmed that Pashilk's bail was set on Monday at $5 million.
Although arson cases themselves aren't unusual – “We have arson cases all the time, little ones,” Hinchcliff said – cases of the magnitude of Pashilk's are rare.
Hinchcliff said the last major serial arson case he worked on was that of Norman Henderson, sentenced in 2009 to 24 years in state prison for 10 fires he set between April 2007 and April 2008, a case which Lake County News documented: http://bit.ly/2bjGQD9 .
Henderson set fires in Clearlake, Lucerne and Williams. The fires burned motor homes, vacation residences, a Yolo County Flood Control District cabin, two water bottling and purifying facilities that were closed, and the old Bartlett Springs Lodge and gazebo. A Williams fruit stand was damaged but saved by firefighters.
Officials said the arson charges Pashilk faces for the Clayton fire also will carry enhancements due to the destruction of homes and businesses.
“The residents of Lake County have experienced senseless loss and endured significant hardship over the past year,” said Pimlott. “Mr. Pashilk committed a horrific crime and we will seek prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.”
Board of Supervisors Chair Rob Brown, who was on hand for the announcement of the arrest, said it was “incredible news.”
He said the arrest – which came just days after the fire started – is the beginning of the healing process for victims of the Clayton fire.
Referring to the lengthy 11-month Valley fire investigation, Brown said, “To have to go through that again would be a lot to ask of any community.”
Cal Fire said arson is a major threat to life, property and natural resources due to the extreme fire danger that is continuing across California. As such, authorities urge people to be vigilant, and to report any suspicious activity.
If you witness someone suspicious make note of the time, his or her physical description, as well as any vehicle description, including the license plate number. Always contact law enforcement, never approach a suspicious person.
Anyone with information about arson is urged to contact the Cal Fire Arson Hotline at 1-800-468-4408. Callers can remain anonymous.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.