Selfie arsonist given 20 years in prison for starting devastating Californian fires

Wayne Allen Huntsman was found guilty of starting two forest fires after showing off a self-recorded video of the blaze

A man who started a devastating forest fire in California has been found guilty of arson thanks to evidence he provided himself in form of a video.

Wayne Allen Huntsman, 39, was sentenced to 20 years in prison and given a $60m fine after pleading guilty to starting the fire, which destroyed 97,717 acres of Californian forest over 27 days.

Mr Huntsman admitted to hiking out into woodlands near King of the Mountain Road in Pollock Pines, El Dorado County on September 13 and lighting two fires – later dubbed the 2014 King Fire - claiming that he was trying to keep warm.

Using his mobile phone to record a selfie-video, Mr Huntsman left what appears to be a message for his girlfriend. Pointing out the fires he had started in the woodland, he said on camera: “I’ve got fires all around me. Look at me, babe”.

After taking the video, the arsonist escaped the blazing woods and ran out to a local highway, where he was picked up by retired fire-fighter Lars Knutsen.

He proudly showed his video to Mr Knutsen, who recorded it on his own mobile phone as evidence after recognising its significance.

Crying in court on Friday, Mr Huntsman said: “I plead guilty because I did it”.

The King Fire destroyed around 100 buildings and more than 100 square miles of land in the north-central Sierra Nevada Mountains in 2014, causing thousands of California residents to be evacuated from the blaze.