Man ruled mentally competent to stand trial for deadly 2003 San Bernardino County wildfire

Man will stand trial for deadly S. Calif. wildfire

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — A man charged with setting a deadly wildfire that destroyed more than 1,000 homes has been ruled mentally competent to stand trial in San Bernardino County.

The judge made his ruling for Rickie Lee Fowler on Wednesday, based on evaluations by mental health experts.

Prosecutors say Fowler set the 91,000-acre Old Fire in 2003 that caused five deadly heart attacks. Fowler, who faces murder and arson charges, is tentatively set for trial Aug. 9.

The mental evaluations were requested in April after Fowler’s attorney said his client had been placed on suicide watch and questioned Fowler’s mental competency.

Fowler has pleaded not guilty to murder and arson. Prosecutors say they plan to seek the death penalty.