Actually Leadfoot, the hunter did start the fire on purpose. He got a minor slap on the wrist for causing one of the biggest disasters in California history and indirectly killing 15 people.

I'm sure a lot of people will defend what Ken Knight did by starting that fire, but given what can happen, I think people should think hard before doing what he did. Setting off a beacon is a much less risky choice.

A friend of mine was killed in a helicopter crash looking for a lost hiker. I don't have a lot of sympathy for garden variety carelessness. Not a popular position under the circumstances here, but one that should be considered.