California wildfire suspect Wayne Hunstman pleads not guilty to arson

The man suspected of deliberately starting a fire that is now threatening thousands of homes in Northern California has pleaded not guilty to an arson charge.

Wayne Allen Huntsman entered the plea Friday. He appeared briefly in an El Dorado County courtroom, keeping his head down most of the time.

Huntsman was arrested Wednesday. Authorities have not said what led them to him, or released a possible motive.

Huntsman’s sister, Tami Criswell of Salinas, has said she doubts her brother started the fire but if he did, it wasn’t intentional.

The blaze has damaged or destroyed multiple structures and driven 2,800 people from their homes. It has consumed about 120 square miles and is 10 percent contained.