- đź“Ś Ronnie Dean Stout II, 44, was found guilty of arson by a Butte County judge on the second anniversary of the Park Fire, July 24, 2026.
- đź“Ś The fire destroyed 713 structures and damaged 57 others, burning 429,603 acres across Butte and Tehama counties, making it California's fourth-largest wildfire on record and the largest wildfire caused by arson in state history.
- đź“Ś Stout faces 25 years to life in prison under California's three-strikes law.
- đź“Ś Prosecutors alleged Stout pushed his burning vehicle down a 60-foot hill after it became high-centered, igniting the massive blaze.
Introduction
Two years after the devastating Park Fire tore through Butte and Tehama counties, the arson trial of suspect Ronnie Dean Stout II, 44, concluded with a guilty verdict on July 24, 2026. A Butte County judge found Stout responsible for starting the fire on the exact anniversary of the blaze, bringing a sense of closure to a community still healing from the disaster. The fire was sparked when Stout pushed his flaming vehicle down a 60-foot embankment.
Main Content
Trial Proceedings
Ronnie Dean Stout II, 44, accused of starting the Park Fire on July 24, 2024, in upper Bidwell Park, was tried before Judge Kristen Lucena after Stout waived his right to a jury trial. During the trial, prosecutors presented surveillance video showing Stout buying a 25-ounce malt liquor on the morning of the fire. Witnesses reported seeing him drinking and harassing bathers at Bear Hole in upper Bidwell Park that afternoon, highly intoxicated, before speeding off on Upper Park Road. Prosecutors allege Stout's 2007 Toyota Yaris went off the gravel road near Alligator Hole, becoming high-centered. According to testimony, the vehicle became stuck on a mound of dirt 60 feet above a gully near Big Chico Creek. Witnesses testified that he attempted to free the car by alternating between forward and reverse, repeatedly revving his engine as his tires spun in the surrounding grass and brush. His attempts to free the vehicle allegedly ignited grass underneath, spreading to the car. A witness, Elizabeth Fox, reportedly saw Stout push the car into a brushy ravine, triggering the massive blaze. Another witness testified that she saw Stout blend into the crowd of people rushing to evacuate from the Alligator Hole swimming area. She snapped photos of him fleeing the scene and posted them on social media. Multiple other witnesses who were in the area that day saw the photos, recognized Stout, and contacted Cal Fire. Stout denies pushing the car.
Additional testimony revealed that after the fire, investigators determined the vehicle had been taken out of gear and was in neutral, with the parking brake not engaged. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Battalion Chief Matt Palade testified that Stout did not report the fire to emergency dispatchers but instead called the Butte County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line hours later. Palade also testified that around three hours after the fire started, he contacted Stout by phone. Palade further testified that heat from the vehicle caused the dry brush to ignite under the car. During post-arrest interviews, Stout initially avoided explaining his actions, later claiming he attempted to rock the vehicle and stomp out the flames. GPS data and cell phone records contradicted his statements, showing his movements and that there was cell service in the area. Prosecutors also presented evidence of a heated text argument between Stout and his girlfriend (now wife) at the time of the fire, where she ended their relationship. Stout was reportedly more upset about losing his $4,000 car than the destruction caused. In two phone conversations with authorities the afternoon and evening of July 24, 2024, Stout asked the same question repeatedly, though the content of the question was not specified in court.
The defense heavily attacked the credibility of key witness Elizabeth Fox. Fox, the only witness who testified she saw Stout push the car down the hill, had made assumptions about what she saw, posted on TikTok, and started a GoFundMe account. Defense attorney Nicole Diamond argued that Fox's admitted mental health issues, PTSD from the Camp Fire, and presence in the park after an argument made her unreliable. Diamond also cited testimony from defense expert Robert Rappaport, who offered an alternative explanation: that the car might have rolled down the hill due to tire swelling and other fire-related changes, not because Stout pushed it. Diamond argued that “accidental mechanical combustion” could not be proof of arson. Prosecutor Marc Noel countered that the standard is what a reasonable person would consider dangerous, noting the Red Flag Warning, 100-degree heat, and dry grass. “This was a disaster waiting to happen. All it needed was a source, and Mr. Stout was that source,” Noel said. Noel also emphasized that Stout's own complaints about his car loss revealed his mindset. Additionally, other witnesses - Allison Ehresman and Andrew Payton, who were celebrating their 10th anniversary with their 2-year-old son - saw the fire start and Stout get out of the car before Fox arrived. All three witnesses saw him standing in the road.
Verdict
On July 24, 2026, exactly two years after the fire ignited, Judge Kristen Lucena found Ronnie Dean Stout II guilty of willful arson (intentional arson) with multiple enhancements, including causing the destruction of multiple residential structures, following a trial without a jury. The verdict came after closing arguments that focused on the credibility of Elizabeth Fox. Stout faces 25 years to life in prison under California's three-strikes law, as he has two prior strikes. Sentencing is scheduled for October 9. The judge's decision brings the case to a close.
Local California Context
The Park Fire primarily impacted Butte and Tehama counties, including communities like Cohasset and Forest Ranch. It destroyed 713 structures and damaged 57 others, with 427 homes in Cohasset and Forest Ranch and more than 300 other structures lost. The fire burned 429,603 acres, making it California's fourth-largest wildfire on record and the largest wildfire caused by arson in state history. It also forced widespread evacuations and temporarily closed Lassen Volcanic National Park.
Background
The Park Fire ignited on July 24, 2024, at around 2:42 p.m. in upper Bidwell Park near Chico. It was a red flag day with triple-digit temperatures and a strong, dry wind blowing from the south. Vegetation was parched by multiple sweltering days. From a wildfire perspective, it was the perfect storm. The fire quickly spread due to dry conditions and strong winds, devastating the region. The fire ultimately burned 429,603 acres across Butte and Tehama counties, becoming the fourth-largest wildfire in California history and the largest arson-caused wildfire. Stout was arrested the following day at his mother's home in Chico, but his trial faced multiple delays over nearly two years. The fire was ignited when Stout pushed his burning vehicle down a 60-foot hill. Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey previously stated that Stout was highly intoxicated at the time.
Stout was 42 years old at the time of the fire and 44 at his conviction.
Conclusion
With the guilty verdict on the fire's second anniversary, the community has received accountability for Stout's actions. Stout faces 25 years to life in prison, offering a measure of justice for the victims and a precedent for wildfire arson cases in California.
Sources and Materials
PREVIOUS UPDATES ALREADY INCORPORATED INTO THE TEXT: UPDATE 1: Witnesses testified to observing Stout driving at high speeds before his vehicle became lodged on a dirt berm off the roadway. Eyewitnesses recalled hearing the engine revving repeatedly and seeing tires spin rapidly in dry vegetation, generating dust, smoke, and ultimately flames beneath the car. Investigators also noted that due to the level of damage, they could not determine whether the ignition was in the on or off position. Cell phone records revealed that at approximately 2:46 p.m., as the fire was starting, she texted him that their relationship was over and stated she was returning her dress and ring. Observers in the courtroom saw Stout with his hands over his head, a gesture assumed to be shock or disbelief, but prosecutor Marc Noel noted that it is also consistent with extreme anger. Prosecutors had subpoenaed Stout’s wife as a potential rebuttal witness in case Stout or his mother testified, but she did not appear on the first day of trial. Her Santa Rosa attorney had previously filed a motion to quash the subpoena, citing personal hardship. District attorney officials countered the claim, noting that she routinely traveled to the area, including for mid-week jail visits and to marry Stout. On July 24, 2026, exactly two years after the fire ignited, Judge Kristen Lucena found Ronnie Dean Stout II guilty of arson of forest land following a three-day trial without a jury.
PREVIOUS UPDATES ALREADY INCORPORATED INTO THE TEXT: UPDATE 1: Firefighters battled the wildfire for nearly two months before it was fully contained. In two phone conversations with authorities the afternoon and evening of July 24, 2024, Stout showed little remorse, repeatedly asking, "What did I do wrong, bro?" Witnesses also photographed Stout fleeing the scene, helping investigators identify him. Judge Lucena deliberated for just 15 minutes after closing arguments before returning a guilty verdict. Stout has a lengthy criminal history spanning more than two decades. In 2001, he was convicted in Butte County of molesting a child under 14 and served a year in jail. A year later, he was convicted in Kern County of robbery and inflicting great bodily injury, receiving a 20-year prison sentence. After being released on parole, he was arrested in 2020 on suspicion of driving under the influence near Upper Bidwell Park.