UPDATED: Pilot Hill Fire Burns 11 Acres, Home; Deputies Seek Resident
PILOT HILL (CBS13) - Investigators are looking into the cause of a grass fire that burned several acres and damaged a home in Pilot Hill.
El Dorado County Sheriff's Department investigators were at the home on Pine Tree Court Wednesday morning where crime scene tape had been put up. Authorities say prior to the fire they received a call reporting a dispute between a man and a woman. A deputy was dispatched to the area, and before the deputy arrived, dispatchers were alerted to a grass fire burning near the home. The fire burned 11 acres.
A neighbor described the scene to CBS13.
"I looked out my window, which is on the hill over there, and I could see the whole hillside lit up, just lit up, all smoke and flames and fire trucks and everybody just running around," said Kevin McNaughton, a neighbor.
Upon arriving, deputies found the house engulfed in flames. Timothy Maston, 57, was discovered outside the home with injuries to his face and head.
"He looked swollen, looked like he had head injuries," said one neighbor.
Maston claims to have been assaulted by 40-year-old Angel Ashbey, who lives at the residence, and says she fled prior to the deputies' arrival.
Maston was taken to a nearby hospital by ambulance. His current condition is unknown.
Neighbors believe the people are squatters and the fire was intentionally set.
"This was lit," said McNaughton. "People like that run around out here. It's so dry."
Investigators are still working to determine if the fire and assault are connected.
They are also attempting to locate Ashbey. Anyone with information regarding her whereabouts is asked to contact El Dorado County sheriff's Det. Troy Morton at 530-642-4712.
