OROVILLE, Wash. – A civil lawsuit has been filed by the United States and the State of Washington against Mark Whigham and Renee Shepley-Ragan in connection with the .
The fire, which started on July 29, 2023, caused extensive damage, burning 34,049 acres.
According to the complaint filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, the fire ignited on the defendants’ property in Oroville.
The lawsuit alleges that Whigham’s use of an angle grinder to cut metal girders led to sparks igniting dry vegetation, despite a red flag warning and a burn ban in effect.
The suit claims that the defendants’ actions violated state regulations, including cutting metal outside permitted hours and failing to have a fire watch.
The complaint also states that both Whigham and Shepley-Ragan were present during the incident and failed to take necessary precautions to prevent the fire from spreading.
The Eagle Bluff Fire prompted evacuations and crossed into British Columbia, requiring significant firefighting efforts from federal and state agencies.
The state is seeking damages to cover fire suppression costs and resource damage.
Nonstop has reached out to the defendants’ for comment.
