Medford, Ore — The man accused of lighting his car on fire near Emigrant Lake, just minutes after the Almeda Fire began, appeared in court Thursday.
45-year-old Vance Nguyen’s attorney requested a continuance, because they are waiting on a psychiatric report. That report could open up the possibility for Nguyen to plead guilty except for insanity.
Nguyen is charged with first degree arson after firefighters found his car on fire with a propane tank on top.
Luckily the direction of winds that day prevented the fire from spreading to nearby brush.
Nguyen will undergo an examination at the Oregon State Hospital before the motion is entered into the courts.
The investigation into what or who started the Almeda Fire is ongoing.
A man was arrested for starting a 2nd fire in Phoenix, that merged with the original Almeda fire. Michael Bakkela is facing numerous charges, including arson and animal abuse among others in that case.
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