California firefighter arrested for allegedly starting 5 wildfires
CNN
A Cal Fire firefighter was arrested Friday morning on suspicion of starting five separate wildfires in the state within the last six weeks.
A Cal Fire firefighter was arrested Friday morning on suspicion of starting five separate wildfires in the state within the last six weeks. The fire apparatus engineer, Robert Hernandez, 38, was arrested by Cal Fire Law Enforcement officers at a fire station in Mendocino County, California, on suspicion of “arson to forest land,” according to a news release from the agency. “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,” Director and Fire Chief Joe Tyler said in the release, noting residents’ “vigilance” had helped the agency catch Hernandez. Hernandez is suspected of starting five separate fires on purpose, while off duty, between August 15 and September 14, the release said. All the fires were in Sonoma County. Quick actions by residents and fire suppression teams kept the damages from those fires minimal, Cal Fire said, as the combined fires only burned one acre of land. Hernandez is facing five counts of arson to forest land and is being held on a $2 million bail, Sonoma County Jail records show. It is unclear if Hernandez has obtained an attorney.
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