Cigarette caused 34,000-acre wildfire

A cigarette sparked the wildfire in Stanislaus County that burned more than 34,000 acres and briefly threatened Henry W. Coe State Park in eastern Santa Clara County before being contained last week, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported.

Authorities are still seeking the person or people responsible for starting the blaze in Del Puerto Canyon, which destroyed 16 hunting lodges and other structures before being contained last Wednesday. Evidence from the scene is being tested in a lab, and the department is seeking help from anyone who was in the area immediately before the fire started about 4 p.m. July 9.