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Brady

UKIAH, California (CNN) -- A man accused of starting the fire that led to the deaths of two air tanker pilots in California was arraigned Wednesday on homicide charges that alleged he was operating a drug lab that may have been part of a larger drug ring.

Prosecutors read the four charges against Franklin Brady, 50, but he did not enter a plea since he did not have an attorney. Further proceedings were delayed until next Wednesday.

Brady was charged with two counts of homicide, one count of arson and one count of running a methamphetamine lab, according to Mendocino County District Attorney Norman Vroman.

Two pilots were killed Monday when their planes collided as they fought a blaze near Hopland. The district attorney said authorities are investigating whether the fire was connected to the illegal methamphetamine lab.

"The fire was definitely within 10 feet of the lab. Whether it started it, we don't know. That's speculation," Vroman said, adding that the investigation is ongoing.

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In a report by The Associated Press, Vroman also said Brady told authorities he started the fire and that he was a member of the Hells Angels gang. Fire investigators said they found a methamphetamine lab near the fire pit where they believe the blaze began.

"He says he was there. He says he started the fire," Vroman said outside the courtroom following the arraignment. "At the beginning point of the fire, there was a meth lab."

Authorities said it was not yet clear, though, whether the fire began during the manufacture of drugs.

Attorney Richard Petersen, who represented Brady in court Wednesday, said prosecutors went too far in holding Brady responsible for the deaths of the two pilots.

"It's a stretch to make it murder," Petersen said.