A prominent Democratic donor has been arrested, accused of intentionally igniting a catastrophic forest fire near Yosemite National Park in 2022. This blaze, initially blamed on climate change by many Democrats, scorched thousands of acres and decimated countless homes, causing millions in damages. The arrest brings into question the relentless narrative regarding climate change being the sole instigator of wildfires in California.
Edward Fredrick Wackerman, a 71-year-old resident of Mariposa, California, and a former firefighter is the alleged arsonist behind what was known as the Oak Fire, one of the most destructive fires in the county’s history. Authorities apprehended Wackerman on Friday on charges of aggravated arson, arson causing great bodily injury and arson resulting in the damage or destruction of inhabited structures.
Lincoln Project and other Democrat Donor, Edward Fredrick Wackerman, Arrested for Starting Massive Fire Democrats Blamed on Climate Change
Democratic politicians had insisted climate change was to blame for the blaze, which destroyed more than 100 homes and injured several… pic.twitter.com/ucwkL4x6p2
— Bad Kitty Unleashed 🦁💪🏻 (@pepesgrandma) June 19, 2023
In a statement from Mariposa County District Attorney Walter Wall, he emphasized that Wackerman faces severe charges with significant legal consequences, stressing his commitment to a fair trial and upholding justice.
Government records reveal that the accused has donated $1,775 to Democratic candidates and committees since 2020, with noteworthy contributions to Tim Ryan’s failed U.S. Senate campaign in 2022 and the Lincoln Project, a well-known liberal super PAC.
The Oak Fire devastated the community, claiming 127 residential structures, incinerating over 19,000 acres, and causing over $8.3 million in property losses. It also accrued over $100 million in response costs for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, known as Cal Fire.
In the peak days of this calamity, as many as 6,000 individuals were ordered to evacuate their homes due to the relentless advance of the fire. Notably, the fire also injured three firefighters battling the destructive blaze.
At the time of the fire, Democratic leaders, including former Vice President Al Gore and Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA), attributed the outbreak to climate change, perpetuating a narrative that wildfires in California are predominantly climate change-induced. This arrest brings this attribution into question.
The now-accused Wackerman is scheduled for an arraignment on September 14 and is being held in jail on a no-bond order.
