(Butte County, CA) – In Butte County Court yesterday, 54-year-old Doug Rowell of Yankee Hill was sentenced to two years in state prison, after admitting to setting his taxi cab on fire, causing it to spread to surrounding vegetation. That occurred on July 17th, between Yankee Hill and Concord.

Crews responded to what investigators described as a “make-shift RV campsite” behind the Rock House Restaurant near the HWY 70, Timtam Lane intersection. Crews prevented its spread to the restaurant.

The D.A. tells Action News Rowell admitted to wanting to blow up his taxi in a suicide attempt, by placing a rag in the fuel tank and lighting it, however, it did not “blow up like in the movies,” he tried to help it along by soaking a seven foot tall bear statue with gasoline and lighting that fire next to the taxi cab.