(SFGate) - County officials arrested a Clearlake man Monday on 17 counts of arson related to numerous fires — including the raging 4,000-acre Clayton Fire that has so far claimed 175 buildings and displaced hundreds of people.

County Sheriff Brian Martin and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Chief Ken Pimlott announced the arrest of Damin Pashilk, 40, at a community meeting of about 200 people at a casino doubling as a Red Cross shelter south of the blaze.

People screamed as they heard that the fire that is causing so much heartache may have been deliberately set.