Arrest made in Bidwell Mansion arson: 30-year-old accused of starting fire at CA landmark
Authorities have arrested a Chico man in connection with the intentional blaze that destroyed Chico’s historic Bidwell Mansion in December, California State Parks officials announced Friday.
Kevin Alexander Carlson, 30, was arrested Thursday afternoon on suspicion of felony arson and a host of other charges and booked into Butte County Jail in Oroville. State Parks officers along with Cal Fire’s Office of the State Fire Marshal, Chico Police Department and officers at California State University, Chico, made the Thursday afternoon arrest.
State Parks officials Friday said more information was to come at a Monday news conference at Butte County District Attorney’s Office in Oroville, but said Cal Fire investigators “found clear indicators pointing to an intentional act and on Dec. 17, determined the cause to be arson.”
Chico Mayor Kasey Reynolds said the city was thankful that an arrest had been made in a Friday statement.
“The city of Chico is pleased with the announcement from the California State Parks earlier today that an arrest has been made in connection with the Dec. 11 fire that destroyed the Bidwell Mansion,” Reynolds’ statement read.
“This arrest is a result of multiple agencies working closely to identify the cause and origin of the fire and the suspect potentially responsible for this devastating event,” Reynolds continued. “The city remains dedicated to working collaboratively with the State and the community on any future plans for the Bidwell Mansion site.”
State Parks officials in December said they planned to take a full inventory of artifacts once the charred structure was safe to enter, adding that it was too early to ponder plans for the future of the state historic park. Completed in 1868, the 26-room mansion was undergoing an extensive renovation that was nearly complete when the fire broke out.
State Parks officials are now “assessing what remains of the mansion and how that fits with its designation as a California Historical Landmark and being listed on the National Register of Historic Places,” they said in the Friday announcement. “Any decision about the future of the park will involve substantial community input and engagement, tribal consultation, and considerations of national standards for historic properties.”
A fund established by local philanthropy North Valley Community Foundation, Bidwell Mansion Fund, is raising money toward rebuilding the historic building.
Chico State officials declined comment on Friday, saying they would wait until arrest details are released at Monday’s news conference.
The fire early Dec. 11, stunned a city where the mansion was a fountainhead, home to its founding family and its enduring symbol.
“For Chico, it’s like when Parisians lost Notre Dame. If St. Louis were to lose the (Gateway) Arch. It’s something like that. It’s been here for 160 years. It’s older than the town.”” former Chico mayor Andrew Coolidge said of the mansion’s impact on the city in the blaze’s aftermath. “In a literal way, it’s the center of town. It’s tied to every aspect of the city. It’s very traumatic.”
This story was originally published January 3, 2025 at 9:55 AM.
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