The man suspected of causing one of the largest wildfires in California history claims he didn’t start the Park Fire on purpose and denied pushing a flaming car down a gully as alleged by a witness, authorities said on Monday.But Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey said it was his view that “the evidence tends stronger to the witness.” Ronnie Dean Stout II is accused of starting the fire that broke out shortly before 3 p.m. on Wednesday, July 24. Ramsey said Stout claimed he had pulled the vehicle off the road and it got stuck in the grass. After the car caught fire, he was frightened and left the area, according to the account. Ramsey indicated he agreed that Stout did not purposely light the car on fire and had gotten stuck after going over a berm.But a witness said that Stout revved the engine over dry grass, which led to smoke developing under the car, he said. The witness then saw Stout watch the fire under the car before getting into a position on the passenger side and pushing the car backward into the gully, Ramsey said. The California Highway Patrol later examined the car and found it to have been in neutral, he said. Ramsey also said that witnesses had seen Stout drinking nearby and speeding on a gravel road before the fire started. Stout had gone home after the fire started. He was arrested on July 25 and was booked into jail with alcohol in his system, Ramsey said. As of Monday, the Park Fire has burned more than 370,000 acres and destroyed 111 homes, according to Cal Fire. Stout has been charged with “willful, malicious arson,” which would carry a third strike based on Stout’s previous criminal history, Ramsey said. The charge includes a “special allegation” that Stout allegedly caused multiple structures to burn. Stout has previous convictions for lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14 in 2001 in Butte County and robbery with great bodily injury in 2002 in Kern County. After that second conviction, he was sentenced to state prison for 20 years.He was later arrested for a DUI in 2020 in Bidwell Park, the same area where the Park Fire erupted.Stout would face 25 years to life, if convicted in the latest case, Ramsey said.