Pasadena Star News, Sep. 5, 2002
http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/
ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST – The Curve fire that has consumed more than 16,000 acres in the Angeles National Forest was started by candles used in a ritual involving animal sacrifice, U.S. Forest officials said late Wednesday.
Fire investigators concluded it was candles that sparked the blaze which originated in Bichota Mesa, said Cliff Johnson, fire information officer with the U.S. Forest Service.
“I’m not sure what they found,” he said. Details about the investigation were scarce.
Arson is believed to be the cause of the fire.
Rumored reports of a Satanic cult or a group of “witches” that are regularly seen in the forest lighting candles and cutting off chicken heads are also being looked into, sources said Wednesday.
More than 1,640 firefighters continued to battle the fire on Wednesday, as the blaze moved in nearly every direction.
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