Kevin Alexander Carlson, 30, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of arson to a structure with use of an accelerant, according to Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey.
The mansion fire on Dec. 11 was determined to be caused by an intentional act of arson by Cal Fire on Dec. 17.
Ramsey said a warrant was obtained by a local judge and was served Thursday for Carlson’s arrest by officers with California State Parks, Cal Fire, Chico Police Department and Chico State Police Department
Carlson is currently being held without bail at Butte County Jail, Ramsey said.
An excavator brought in by California State Parks to further the fire investigation sits to the right of Bidwell Mansion in Chico, California, on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (Evan Tuchinsky/Enterprise-Record)
The Bidwell Mansion on Saturday, Sept. 25 2022 in Chico, California. (Kimberly Morales/Enterprise-Record file)
Bidwell Mansion, Chico’s 160-year-old iconic symbol, was destroyed by fire early Wednesday. (Contributed)
A look from above as the fire continues to smolder in Bidwell Mansion on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 in Chico, California.
(Matt Bates/Chico State)
Some brick portions of the Bidwell Mansion remain standing on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024 in Chico, California. (Jake Hutchison/Enterprise-Record)
Metal scaffolding burned in the Bidwell Mansion fire leans outward on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024 in Chico, California. (Jake Hutchison/Enterprise-Record)
The Bidwell Mansion on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024 in Chico, California the day after the structure burned in a fire that remains under investigation. (Jake Hutchison/Enterprise-Record)
Smoke from a hot spot seeps out of the Bidwell Mansion tower in Chico, California on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024. (Jake Hutchison/Enterprise-Record)
Matt Teague, the district superintendent of California State Parks, speaks about the Bidwell Mansion fire on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024 in Chico, California. (Jake Hutchison/Enterprise-Record)
A look from above as the fire continues to smolder in Bidwell Mansion on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 in Chico, California
(Matt Bates/Chico State)
A piece of burned material from a book blown out of the Bidwell Mansion is pictured west of the Chico State campus Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024 in Chico, California. (Sherrie Oilar Wolcott/Contributed)
Jordan Bennett and Hannah Chapla play Game of Graces in front of the Bidwell Mansion in Chico, California August 10, 2014. Game of Grace was first created around 1860 when it was decided that young ladies needed to get outside and exercise. (Emily Bertolin – Enterprise-Record)
A sign near the visitors center shows a timeline of the Bidwell Mansion as firefighters work on the remains of John and Annie Bidwell’s former home after a fire Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 in Chico, California. (Dan Reidel/Enterprise-Record)
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An excavator brought in by California State Parks to further the fire investigation sits to the right of Bidwell Mansion in Chico, California, on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (Evan Tuchinsky/Enterprise-Record)
According to Ramsey, Carlson was born and raised in Paradise, graduated from Paradise High School and was most recently a resident of Chico.
Ramsey did not disclose a suspected motive nor details on how the fire started.
A press conference scheduled Monday at the Butte County District Attorney’s Office will provide more details on the arrest and the investigation, Ramsey said.
Ramsey said he was “extraordinarily proud” of how government agencies worked together in the investigation. The agencies include the California Governor’s Office of the State Fire Marshall, California State Parks, Chico Police Department, Cal Fire-Butte County, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Butte County District Attorney’s Office.
