Late today, far from the fire lines, the man accused of causing a Northern California fire that has scorched nearly 120 square miles of land pleaded not guilty to arson.

Wayne Allen Huntsman, 37, of Pollock Pines, California, is being held on $10 million bail and stands accused of putting firefighters in extreme danger. He was arrested Wednesday.

Images: California wildfire threatens homes.

The blaze was so catastrophic that 2,800 people were driven from their homes and some remained in evacuation centers. Some even were forced to drive through the flames to reach safety.

Investigators said they traced the point of ignition to the back of a house owned by Ralph Lorenz.

They allege Huntsman broke into the house, actually kicking in the door, and then called 911 to report the fire.

Authorities did not say how they linked Huntsman to the fire.

The King Fire, just east of Sacramento, started Saturday. Authorities told The Associated Press that it cost $5 million a day to fight the fires.

They also said today that the fire had burned down several structures and that some of those buildings were likely homes.

Huntsman's sister Tami Criswell told the AP that she did not think he was responsible for the fires.

"He would never do anything intentionally to hurt anybody," she said.

Randall Benton/The Sacramento Bee/AP Photo