Ronnie Dean Stout II was found guilty of arson for causing the 2024 Park Fire, one of California's largest wildfires.

Ronnie Dean Stout II was found guilty of aggravated arson on Friday for willfully and maliciously causing the 2024 Park Fire. The blaze, which became the fourth-largest wildfire in California history, burned more than 429,000 acres and destroyed 713 structures across multiple counties. The fire originated on July 24, 2024, after Ronnie Dean Stout II became stuck on a dirt berm in Chico. Prosecutors demonstrated that Stout repeatedly revved his engine until the vehicle caught fire, at which point he pushed the burning car into a ravine, igniting the surrounding dry vegetation. While the defense argued the fire could have started accidentally, the judge ruled that Stout acted with criminal intent. Because this conviction serves as a "third strike" under California law, Ronnie Dean Stout II faces a potential sentence of 25 years to life in state prison. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 9.

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