A Northern California hunter who was charged with allegedly starting an illegal campfire that ignited the massive Rim Fire in 2013 pled not guilty on Tuesday.

Thirty-two-year-old Keith Matthew Emerald submitted his plea on Tuesday in the U.S. District Court after surrendering earlier in the day to authorities for purportedly sparking the historic wildfire in California's Yosemite National Park a year ago.

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According to U.S. District Magistrate Judge Gary Austin, Emerald can post a bond of $60,000 should he wish to be free while his case is being heard, provided that he abide to listed conditions specified by the court.

The Rim Fire, which began on August 17, 2013, became Sierra Nevada's largest fire to date, scorching over 400 square miles of the Stanislaus National Forest and Yosemite National Park and destroying almost 100 structures worth over $127 million dollars.

Ten people were wounded during the incident.

A week ago, Emerald was accused of causing the devastating Rim Fire of 2013 after he allegedly started a campfire and left it unattended, violating campfire regulations. He was also charged for lying to a government agency.

During the fire, authorities rescued Emerald via helicopter around one hour after the large fire started.

At that time, he told authorities that he had not started any fires during the course of his deer-hunting trip and had blamed a rock slide and then marijuana growers for the Rim Fire.

Prosecutors believed that Emerald had lied to investigators and had indeed lit a campfire in a no-fire zone in the forest, triggering the wildfire spread.

The hunter later admitted to lighting a campfire using twigs, pine needles, and a lighter in an affidavit where he explained that he lied because he was afraid of retaliation from the community.

Emerald now faces a maximum sentence of six years in prison and over $250,000 worth of fines if proven guilty of all four charges.

The next hearing for the Rim Fire case is slotted to begin on October 14.

TagsRim Fire, Yosemite National Park, Stanislaus National Forest, hunter guilty of starting Rim Fire, Keith Emerald, 2013 wildfire