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NBC news Bay Area published September 21, 2024: Cal Fire employee arrested for allegedly starting fires in the North Bay. A firefighter was arrested for allegedly starting several fires in the North Bay, Cal Fire said. Jodi Hernandez reports.
BBC News, UK local
written by Jaroslav Lukiv
Friday September 20, 2024
An employee of California's state fire protection agency has been arrested on suspicion of starting five forest fires in recent weeks, local officials have said.
Robert Hernandez, a 38-year-old apparatus engineer at Cal Fire, was charged with five counts of arson, and is due to appear in court on Tuesday.
He is suspected of igniting the blazes while off duty in three areas of northern California between 15 August and 14 September.
Thanks to the quick response by firefighters and local residents less than an acre (0.4 ha) of wildland was burned, the officials said.
“I am appalled to learn one of our employees would violate the public’s trust and attempt to tarnish the tireless work of the 12,000 women and men of Cal Fire,” agency chief Joe Tyler said.
Hernandez was arrested on Friday, and booked into Sonoma County Jail on Friday.
He is suspected of starting the five fires near the towns of Geyserville, Healdsburg and Windsor, some 56-62 miles (90-100km) north of San Francisco.
Apparatus engineers at Cal Fire are responsible for operating and maintaining fire engines and water tanks during emergency responses.
California has seen a number of severe wildfires during the summer, with nearly three times as much acreage burn as during all of 2023, the AP news agency reported.
On Tuesday a 34-year-old delivery driver pleaded not guilty to 11 arson-related crimes by prosecutors in southern California.
Justin Wayne Halstenberg is alleged to have started one major wildfire - dubbed the Line Fire - which burned through 61 square miles (158 square kilometers) of the San Bernardino mountains east of Los Angeles.
ABC7 News Bay Area published September 20, 2024: Cal Fire firefighter arrested for allegedly starting 5 North Bay fires while off duty. Fire officials believe the fire apparatus engineer ignited the Alexander Fire on Aug. 15, the Windsor River Road Fire on Sept. 8, the Geysers Fire on Sept. 12, and the Geyser and Kinley fires on Sept. 14.
Fox26 News, Fresno, CA local
written by Stephen Hawkins
Friday September 20, 2024
SONOMA COUNTY, California — A firefighter was arrested Friday morning after Cal Fire Law Enforcement accused him of intentionally setting multiple fires in Sonoma County.
Officers arrested 38-year-old Robert Hernandez of Healdsburg, at the Howard Forest Fire Station on suspicion of arson to forest land.
The fires were started in the areas surrounding Geyserville, Healdsburg, and Windsor.
Cal Fire says Hernandez is a Fire Apparatus Engineer who is suspected of igniting five fires while he was off duty.
They say he set the Alexander Fire on August 15th, the Windsor River Road Fire on September 8th, the Geysers Fire on September 12th, and the Geyser and Kinley fires on September 14th.
"All five fires combined burned less than an acre of wildland due to the quick actions of residents and fire suppression resources."
Hernandez will be booked into Sonoma County Jail on charges of arson to forest land.
“I am appalled to learn one of our employees would violate the public’s trust and attempt to tarnish the tireless work of the 12,000 women and men of CAL FIRE,” said Director/Fire Chief Joe Tyler.
Residents should be vigilant in their preparedness and aware of suspicious persons when a fire starts.
Suspicious activity should be reported, including the time, the individual’s physical description, and a vehicle description, including the license plate number.
"Always contact law enforcement and never approach a suspicious person."
Anyone with information about arson is urged to contact the CAL FIRE Arson Hotline at 1-800-468-4408. Callers may remain anonymous.
CAL FIRE Law Enforcement Officers have arrested 91 suspected arsonists as of September 1, 2024, and 923 since 2016 as part of the Department’s ongoing commitment to fire prevention efforts.
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