A 30-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of intentionally starting a fire that destroyed the historic Bidwell Mansion, an iconic Chico landmark and the former home of the city’s founder, authorities said. .
California State Parks officials arrested Kevin Alexander Carlson of Chico on Thursday. Preliminary charges filed against him include one felony count of intentional arson with an enhancement for use of an accelerant, according to Butte Township. Atty. Mike Ramsey.
Carlson is being held in the Butte County Jail without bail, Ramsey said.
Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park debuted in 2016.
(California State Park)
He added that details of the charges will be presented during Carlson’s arraignment in Butte County Superior Court on Monday at 3 p.m.
The blaze was first discovered around 3 a.m. Dec. 11 at Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park. The Chico Fire Department and several other agencies were unable to prevent extensive damage from the rapidly progressing fire, which caused the top floor of the mansion to cave in. Around 4am
A week later, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection investigators determined the cause of the fire was arson, authorities said.
The 26-room mansion was completed in 1868 and served as the residence of Chico founder John Bidwell and his wife Annie. Extensive restoration work was being carried out on the premises and was almost complete at the time of the fire.
On the morning of December 11th, the mansion went up in flames.
(California State Park)
The future of this historic mansion is currently uncertain.
California State Parks is working with a coalition of community partners including the City of Chico, Cal State Chico, the Methopuda Indian Tribe, and the Bidwell Condominium Association. — to determine next steps for the property. State Parks is also evaluating the remains of the mansion to determine how it would affect the building’s designation as a California Historic Landmark or its inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places.
“For more than a century, this beloved landmark has been a symbol of the legacy of John and Annie Bidwell and the people they helped shape,” State Parks Director Armando Quintero said in a statement after the fire. “It’s a testament to the community.” “We all feel a deep sense of loss to see so much damage done.”
Multiple agencies assisted in apprehending the suspect at the state park, including Cal Fire, the Chico Police Department, the Butte County District Attorney’s Office, and the FBI.
If convicted, Carlson could be sentenced to two to 11 years in prison, Ramsey said.
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