(Butte County, CA) – In Butte County Court yesterday, 26-year-old Spencer Anderson of Oroville pled not guilty to starting the Thompson Fire on July 2nd.

The D.A. says Anderson admitted to buying fireworks from a stand in Oroville, lighting one “to test it out” while driving, and throwing it out the window on Cherokee Road north of Oroville. It resulted in a 4,000 acre blaze that destroyed 26 structures and forced thousands from their homes for several days.

Anderson is due back in court November 12th.