Three men who were reportedly hostile towards fire engine crews and refusing to leave the area were arrested in Nice Saturday.
According to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to the area of Bartlett Springs Road after fire crews reported three men in a pickup truck being hostile and refusing to leave the area.
When deputies arrived at the scene, firefighters told deputies they were trying to fight the front line of the Ranch Fire when the three men refused to leave, which caused fire crews to divert three air tanker passes.
The air tanker passes were being used to try and control the fire so it would not spread to the town of Lucerne.
Officials say the three men, identified as 41-year-old Gary Thomas Wertheimer of Nice, 59-year-old Steven Marshall Bell of Redwood Valley, and 29-year-old Travis Steven Bell of Nice were watering their marijuana plans when they were contacted by authorities.
All three were arrested for Interfering with Firefighters During a Fire Operation and Unauthorized Person in an Evacuation Area and released with a citation.
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