Couple charged with involuntary manslaughter in El Dorado fire

Refugio Manuel Jimenez Jr. and Angela Renee Jimenez have been indicted on involuntary manslaughter and 29 other counts stemming from the El Dorado Fire, San Bernardino District Attorney Jason Anderson announced Tuesday.

During a press conference, Anderson said the couple had been charged with involuntary manslaughter, three counts of recklessly causing a fire with great bodily injury, four counts of recklessly causing a fire to inhabited structures, and 22 misdemeanor counts that deal with fire to other property.

The El Dorado Fire began on September 5th in Yucaipa, CA. The fire burned more than 22,0500 acres in the Oak Glen / Yucaipa Ridge area and within the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area of the San Bernardino National Forest.

The fire forced evacuations of Oak Glen, north Yucaipa, Mountain Home Village, Forest Falls, and Angelus Oaks communities. There were 4 residences damaged, 5 residences destroyed along with 15 other structures destroyed.

The fire resulted in the death of U.S. Forest Service firefighter Charles Morton, as well as 13 other injuries.

The couple were arraigned on Tuesday, and plead not guilty. They were then released on their own recognizance, Anderson said.

The couple will be back in court on September 15.