A California man has been convicted of arson after starting a series of small fires near Gerlach.
In September of last year, a game warden with the Nevada Department of Wildlife noticed a plume of smoke about 20 miles from Gerlach.
She found 20-year-old Kevin Barcus, who appeared to be living in his van off in a remote area of Northern Washoe County.Â
While continuing to search the area the warden found two small bunches of burned grass and a trail of several burnt shrubs and trees leading to Barcus' van, according to a press release from the Washoe County District Attorney's Office.
When she approached Barcus, the warden saw an actively burning juniper tree. Barcus was also covered in soot and ash, and his hair was singed in several places.
Barcus was arrested and members of the Washoe County Sheriff's Office and the Bureau of Land Management were called to assist.
Investigators with BLM found more than 40 different burn areas right away, with one site still smoldering.
Assisting Special Agent in Charge Scott Fischer, an expert in wildfire arson investigation, identified 82 individual fires in the area around Barcus’ camp.
A jury convicted Barcus of third degree arson and his sentencing is set for February 7th.
