NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Cal Fire law enforcement officers on Friday night arrested a Sacramento man involved in an illegal marijuana grow for allegedly starting the Bully Fire in Shasta County.

Freddie Alexander Smoke III, 37, was arrested at 10 p.m. Friday at the fire's origin, Cal Fire reported.

Law enforcement officers found Smoke operating a large rental truck to deliver soil amendments to an illegal marijuana grow site in the area of Roaring Creek Road and Sargent Road, according to a Cal Fire statement.

The fire allegedly started when Smoke operated the truck off road, in rough, grass covered terrain. Components of the truck’s exhaust system contacted the dry grass and ignited the vegetation, Cal Fire said.

Cal Fire said Smoke was arrested for allegedly recklessly causing a fire and marijuana cultivation, both felonies.

The Shasta County Marijuana Eradication Team responded and seized over 180 marijuana plants growing at the site, officials said.

On June 24, Cal Fire and the Shasta County Fire Department suppressed a 15-acre vegetation fire at the same location.

That fire was caused by illegal debris burning, Cal Fire reported. An illegal marijuana grow site also was found at that time, however no responsible parties were located.

The Bully Fire began on Friday afternoon, and by Saturday night had burned 2,930 acres, with Cal Fire estimating containment at 10 percent.

The fire is actively burning in the remote Duncan Creek area. One structure has been destroyed and one structure has been damaged, and several vehicles have been destroyed or damaged, Cal Fire said.

Fifteen residences and 50 other structures remained threatened on Saturday, according to the latest report.

Cal Fire Incident Management Team 6 has been activated and the Anderson Fairgrounds is being utilized to support the suppression efforts.

Resources assigned late Saturday included 1,056 personnel, 33 fire engines, 38 fire crews, five air tankers, 10 helicopters, 16 dozers and 17 water tenders, Cal Fire said.