(Butte County, CA) – Cal Fire investigators have already determined the cause of the Park Fire as arson, and have made an arrest: 42-year-old Ronnie Dean Stout of Chico.

Stout was reportedly seen by witnesses Wednesday afternoon at around 3:00, pushing a burning car down a ravine in Upper Bidwell Park. A press release from the D.A. adds Stout was then “calmly leaving the area by blending in with other citizens fleeing the rapidly evolving fire.”

Stout is a twice-convicted felon and registered sex offender. He was convicted in Butte County in 2001 of lewd & lascivious acts with a child under 14, in Kern County in 2002 for robbery with great bodily injury. As well, the D.A. says stout was arrested four years ago for DUI.