Man Gets 20 Years for Starting Thompson Wildfire in Oroville, CA
The Sacramento Bee
(TNS)
An Oroville man who threw a lit firework from his car, igniting last year’s Thompson Fire, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for a blaze that destroyed 13 homes and damaged dozens of other structures.
Butte Superior Court Judge Michael Deems handed down the sentence to Spencer Grant Anderson, 28, after a jury late last year convicted him of forestland arson, burning residential structures and related sentencing enhancements, according to the Butte County District Attorney’s Office.
“Intentionally setting a wildfire is among the most dangerous crimes a person can commit in our community,” Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey said in a statement. “The Thompson Fire destroyed homes, uprooted families, and put first responders in harm’s way. We were extraordinarily fortunate that there was not a massive loss of life.”
The Thompson Fire ignited July 2, 2024, along Cherokee Road in east Oroville during hot, dry and windy conditions. Prosecutors said Anderson threw a “Safe and Sane” firework from his car into roadside vegetation, causing a blaze that spread rapidly and prompted more than 29,000 residents around Lake Oroville to evacuate.
The wildfire destroyed homes and damaged dozens of structures before Cal Fire crews stopped it from spreading into the Kelly Ridge area, where authorities feared a significant loss of life. Four injuries were reported in the fast-moving blaze, which charred 3,789 acres.
The fire burned for six days before being fully contained amid an extreme heat wave that pushed temperatures in Oroville above 105 degrees, according to previous Bee reporting.
Cal Fire announced Anderson’s arrest in August 2025, about 50 days after the fire, after investigators determined within 24 hours that the blaze had been intentionally set but continued building the case. Authorities said Anderson was monitored around the clock during the investigation and was arrested in Chico without incident.
Investigators tied Anderson to the fire through surveillance footage, physical evidence recovered at the scene and witness accounts, the district attorney’s office said. Prosecutors previously said Anderson admitted to throwing a firework from his car window after purchasing fireworks from an Oroville stand to “test one.”
Investigators also cited a Facebook post made by Anderson on the day of the fire in which he said he was seeking a job as a firefighter.
The jury returned guilty verdicts after a six-day trial held in November and December 2025.
At sentencing, Supervising Deputy District Attorney Niels Bringsjord argued for a lengthy prison term, citing the deliberate nature of the crime, the destruction of homes and property, and the danger posed to firefighters and residents. He also pointed to Anderson’s prior felony convictions, including threats, vandalism, domestic violence and identity theft.
Defense attorneys asked the court to dismiss a prior serious felony enhancement, citing recent changes in California sentencing law. Deems rejected the request.
The judge also ordered Anderson to pay $2.69 million in restitution to identified victims. Prosecutors said additional restitution claims may be filed as insurance-related losses are finalized.
“Today’s sentence reflects the gravity of that harm,” Ramsey noted, “And sends a clear message that those who endanger public safety in this way will be held fully accountable.”
©2026 The Sacramento Bee. Visit sacbee.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.