Fact #147748

Johnny Cash and his nephew Damon Fielder set off on a fishing trip to Lake Casitas in Los Padres National Forest, California, USA, in Cash's truck which is nicknamed Jesse James. Guzzling amphetamines and swilling whiskey, Cash finds that an overheated wheel bearing on his parked truck has started a grass fire, which eventually scorches over 500 acres, destroys foliage on three mountains and roasts 49 of the area's 53 endangered California condors. When held legally responsible by investigators, Cash stated, "I don't care about your damn yellow buzzards." When a judge later questioned Cash, he was defiant, declaring, "I didn't do it, my truck did and it's dead, so you can't question it." The federal government sues him and is awarded $125,172, but Cash eventually settles the case paying only $82,001.