California Man Shot at Helicopter Crew Preparing to Put Out Raging Wildfires
Trees smolder and burn in Division Echo Echo of the Bootleg Fire on July 25, 2021 in the Fremont-Winema National Forest of Oregon. - the "Bootleg Fire" in Oregon, which started on July 6, 2021 near Beatty, Oregon, has burned in the space of two weeks the equivalent of the city of Los Angeles in vegetation and forests. MATHIEU LEWIS-ROLLAND/AFP via Getty Image

California man Joshua James Chimarusti was arrested after he allegedly pointed his handgun into the sky and shot at a helicopter crew preparing to put out the raging wildfires.

The county's Sheriff's Office said the 44-year-old man fired several rounds at the Ventura County Firehawk helicopter, Law and Crime reported.

Ventura County Firehawk helicopter was said to be doing a nighttime training operation in Lake Casitas on Wednesday night, July 21, when the California man fired at them.

The deputies said "the pilot of Copter 4" took evasive action and identified the suspect's vehicle leaving the area at a high rate of speed.

The helicopter crew has followed the suspect's vehicle into Oak View, where it came to a stop in the 200 blocks of Olive Street.

The California man got out of the vehicle and fired more shots from a handgun at Copter 4 as he ran away to avoid being apprehended.

Sheriff's Captain Eric Buschow told Law and Crime that the county's aviation unit is jointly operated by the sheriff's office and fire department. He added that the incident had taken place in a rural area.

Officials said that Joshua James Chimarusti was found and taken into custody last Thursday, July 22, after an extensive search of the area with a K9 team, a small SWAT contingent, and helicopter. CBS Local reported that the handgun used during both shootings was recovered.

The Ventura County Copter 4 reportedly did not obtain any damage in either shooting. Buschow did not say whether the California man confessed to shooting at the helicopter.

Joshua James Chimarusti faces several charges such as attempted murder, shooting at an unoccupied aircraft, and an assault with a firearm upon a peace officer or firefighter.

The California man is being held on $910,000 bail, and he is set to make his first court appearance on Monday.

California Wildfire

California's largest wildfire continues to grow after destroying more than a dozen homes over the weekend, CBS News reported.

The Dixie Fire north of Sacramento is just 21 percent contained. More than 80 fires are ravaging 11 Western states, which prompted 8,400 forced evacuations.

The fires of the Dixie Fire are destroying Homes in the community of Indian Falls. It continues to threaten thousands more in its path. In addition, Dixie Fire is also creating smoke columns, which could cause lightning storms that can start more fires.

A public information officer assigned to the Dixie Fire said that "those air masses" start moving very quickly as the smoke clears. He said this means that the firefighters would face erratic and windy fire behavior.

Meanwhile, Tamarack Fire is not expected to be fully contained until the end of next month. The Bootleg Fire, near the California border, is now the third-largest ever recorded in Oregon.

The Bootleg Fire had already destroyed around 70 homes. A resident of Sycan Estates in Oregon said there was nothing left when he got to his property.

Around 10,000 homes are threatened with the continuous rampage of the Dixie Fire, which is currently the 15th largest fire in California in history.

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Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Dixie Fire is Now Largest Burning in California | Wildfire Updates - From ABC10