The Big Meadow controlled burn scorched more than 7000 acres and cost tax payers $16 million to fight. Photo by Jono Hey.
73-year old Ann Matteson lives in Foresta. August 27th she was ordered to evacuate as fire crews moved in to protect the tiny mountain community from the controlled burn that had gotten out of control. But Matteson wouldn’t leave her pets and her beloved home behind. Now she’s been incarcerated, fined and has a criminal record.
Matteson refused to leave because she didn’t want to move or leave her three dogs, two cats and garden, she said.
“I’ve got a 15-year-old dog and a 22-year-old cat … if you want pets, their home is their home,” she said.
Yosemite rangers, after telling Matteson not to leave her residence, said she was found trespassing onto neighbors’ properties three times, according to court documents.
Matteson — who was shut off from electricity and water for about a week while she hunkered down with the blaze surrounding her — said she was getting water for her garden when she was caught trespassing.
Court documents said that she was next to a neighbor’s hot tub when she was arrested.
The blaze is now contained, after scorching more than 7,000 acres and costing more than $16 million to fight. (Union Democrat)
Comments
2 responses to “73-Year Old Woman Charged in Big Meadow Fire Case”
You shouldn’t blame the Union Democrat for this shoddy “reporting”…. Extremely misleading headline followed by a story in which the charges against her are never even mentioned.
Not quite sure I follow you there John. The first line of the Union Democrat article says she was charged with trespassing and disobeying a lawful order to evacuate.