Does the punishment fit the crime? Some in Old West Ranch said a misdemeanor citation for starting the fire that destroyed 23 homes is not enough.
"I absolutly think it's a slap on the hand," said Old West resident Trace Robey. "The punishment should be way more severe."
The Kern County Fire Department and a witness said Danile Gentle, 47, and Michael Kulikoff, 23, were cutting up an old windmill stand for scrap metal with a power saw when sparks blew into nearby brush and started the West Fire, which charred 1658 acres and killed dozens of pets.
Gentle lives in Blackburn Canyon where the fire started. His home was untouched by flames.
Both men were issued a misdemeanor citation for using mechanized equipment that started a fire.
"I don't know what to say. My place is gone, so are my neighbors, as far as you can see it's burned," said George Plesko, who has no insurance and wants the men punished.
"You can't get money out of people who don't have money. We are not looking for that. But we want just punishment for what they have done," Robey said.
However, others think the punishment the men will suffer goes beyond the legal system.
"They are going to have to live with this, realizing what they've done," said Terry O'Brien, who lost everything, but has insurance and plans to rebuild. "I don't have no animosity."
