An official timeline of emergency response to the 49 Fire remains unavailable a little more than two months after the blaze devastated Auburn.

A Public Records Act Request from the Journal to Cal Fire asking for the complete dispatch records from the hours when the fire started to when it was contained the next day was denied.

A letter signed by Kim Spire, staff services analyst in the legal services department, states that “we are unable to comply with your request as they are part of an active criminal investigation.”

“These records will not be available for release until the matter has been finally adjudicated or otherwise settled,” Spire wrote.

On Oct. 19, Cal Fire officials announced that arson was the reason 350 acres, 63 homes and two businesses were burned in the Aug. 30 blaze that totaled $40 million in losses.

Officials released no suspect information or any details as to how the fire started other than to say two different blazes were started about 20 minutes and a quarter-mile apart from each other.

On Thursday, Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant said the investigation was ongoing and there was no suspect information available.

He said many arson investigations can take months or years and some are never solved.

“With a fire investigation we want to make sure we put as much effort into being correct,” Berlant said. “We will never rush an investigation just to get it out there. We want to feel 100 percent certain about the cause of the fire.”

Waiting difficult for victims

However, waiting for that information is difficult for fire victims like Joe Castelli and his wife, Faye Matthews-Castelli.

The couple lost their livelihood when flames consumed their rental home off Parkway Drive in North Auburn. Castelli estimates he lost about $70,000 in music-recording gear and Matthews-Castelli lost 600 boxes of greeting cards ready to ship with her hand-painted artwork on them.

The couple did not have renter’s insurance and said they were planning to move into a new home soon.

Castelli told the Journal this week that now their feelings of shock and grief have turned into anger.

“You have no idea how angry we are,” Castelli said.

The husband and wife feel that fire crews worked to save businesses first before defending the homes that bordered an empty field that was in the fire’s path.

“Our whole bone of contention is they did not do the service they needed to do,” Castelli said.

The couple cited a 2003 fire during which the empty field was covered in flames but homes were spared.

“I just don’t understand why they didn’t go to the field,” Matthews-Castelli said.

Berlant said the fact that two separate fires were started added to an already challenging fight for fire crews.

“We already felt from day one we were able to get a lot of equipment in there quickly,” Berlant said.

Berlant said now knowing there was a second fire could explain why some residents felt there was too much time before they saw a fire truck reach their neighborhood.

“There’s a pretty good possibility (fire agencies) may have been on the different side of a different fire,” Berlant said.

He said wind blew embers in various directions and up to half-a mile-away. He added that newer homes in fire danger areas are typically built with better fire-resistant materials than older homes.

“One of our first priorities was to protect those structures but as the wind was blowing over firefighter’s heads, it made it much more difficult,” Berlant said.

The couple says they are also frustrated that fire officials have not released a suspect description or more information about the day of the fire.

“We should have a description of the person,” Castelli said. “How are we as citizens going to help law enforcement?”

Matthews-Castelli agreed that more information about the investigation should be revealed.

“Who are they investigating and why is this information being withheld from the public?” Matthews-Castelli asked. “I need to know these things.”

Officials doing the best they can, victim says

Another 49 Fire victim, Jack Kenny, offered his support for firefighters and the job they faced on a dry, hot, windy Sunday.

“I think they did the best possible job they could considering the circumstances,” Kenny said.

Kenny is in the process of rebuilding his home of 25 years. Construction began last week and the footings were expected to be put in Friday. He said the fact that the fast-moving fire killed no one is “amazing.”

Kenny said he is supportive of the arson investigation.

“There’s a lot of stuff they have to investigate,” Kenny said. “I think they’re doing a good job.”

Kenny lost a cat in the fire and four days later, his aging dog died. He said he hopes officials are able to catch whoever is responsible for a “terrible thing to do.”

“If they catch them, I’d like to sit on the jury,” Kenny joked.

If there is any silver lining for the Castellis at this point, they said it’s the tremendous help they’ve received from community members and local churches.

“Thank God for the Auburn community,” Castelli said. “They’ve been so good to us.”

However, the couple said they would continue to question what information is released to the public. Castelli said their anger wasn’t going to go away anytime soon.

“We’re very angry and that anger is not going to go away,” Castelli said. “No amount of money or reward is ever going to make us feel better.”

Jenifer Gee can be reached at jeniferg@goldcountrymedia.com.

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Arson hotline

Cal Fire officials continue to encourage the public to call with tips regarding the start of the 49 Fire. The fire, which began at about 2:22 p.m. Aug. 30, destroyed 63 homes, two businesses and damaged more.

Daniel Berlant said that every detail is important.

“Even the slightest detail may not seem important to that person but it may be the link to us tying (the investigation) together,” Berlant said.

There is a $10,000 reward being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a suspect.

Call Cal Fire’s arson hotline at (800) 468-4408

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