Santa Margarita man charged with starting the Hill Fire

February 23, 2018

San Luis Obispo County prosecutors have charged a 75-year-old man and registered sex offender with starting last year’s Hill Fire near Santa Margarita that destroyed four homes including actor Johnny Galecki’s ranch. [Cal Coast Times]

David Lynn Macagni of Santa Margarita faces a single misdemeanor charge of recklessly causing a fire of a structure or forest. Macagni pleaded not guilty in San Luis Obispo court on Wednesday.

The Hill Fire ignited on June 26, 2017 off Park Hill Road and La Entrada east of Santa Margarita. The blaze burned 1,598 acres.

Last July, Cal Fire reported the Hill Fire was started by a vehicle fire that spread into vegetation. At the time, the Hill Fire was one of at least three SLO County fires that were suspected to have been started by vehicles.

According to California’s Megan’s Law database, Macagni lives on Park Hill Road in Santa Margarita. In 1964, Macagni was convicted of lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14, according to the database.