Arson Probe Launched Into SoCal Wildfire

[maddezmom]

Source: CBS

CBS) SAN DIEGO A law enforcement official has said California authorities and the FBI have executed a search warrant as part of an arson investigation into one of the wildfires in the state.

The devastating wildfires in Southern California have caused at least $1 billion in damage in San Diego County alone, officials said Wednesday, as easing wind gave firefighters hope that they could begin to gain ground against the flames.

The fires, in their fourth day, had destroyed 1,500 homes and caused at least a half-million people to flee. It marks one of the largest evacuations in U.S. history, reports CBS' The Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith. At least 1,200 of the damaged homes were in San Diego County, and officials believe that number will rise.




Read more: http://kdka.com/national/topstories_story_295060843.html

[shain from kane]

1. It's not a law enforcement matter, if it's terrorism. n/t

[maddezmom]

2. did a little more googling

Arson arrest in minor brush fire

San Bernardino:

A man was arrested in San Bernardino for starting a brush fire Tuesday night that was quickly extinguished by bystanders, officials said.

John Alfred Rund, 48, of Hesperia was booked on suspicion of arson early this morning, said San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Cindy Beavers.

CHP officers responded to a call about 8:50 p.m. Tuesday night of a brush fire started along Highway 173 south of Arrowhead Lake Road, Beavers said.

When they arrived on scene, four people were attempting to put out the brush fire using shovels and dirt.
Witnesses said they had seen a man squatting near the origin of the fire. They said he left on a Honda motorcycle, wearing a red-and-white striped helmet, Beavers said.

After an aerial search using infrared equipment, the motorcyclist was located, interviewed and arrested.
Sheriff's investigators are trying to determine whether Rund is connected to any other fire in San Bernardino County.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/breakingnews/

[shain from kane]

3. I read an earlier article that someone from the current administration claimed that there was

evidence that al-Quaida had planned to start fires within the USA to commit havoc. Of course, in the past, and currently, the Republicans have said the if Democrats are elected, they would fall back and treat terrorism as a law enforcement matter.

[tesla78]

4. Motorcyclist Arrested For Arson In SoCal

Source: (AP) SAN BERNARDINO

"A motorcyclist who allegedly set a small fire in a rural foothill area of the San Bernardino Mountains has been booked for investigation of arson.

Forty-eight-year-old John Alfred Rund of Hesperia was arrested late Tuesday after authorities followed him to an address on State Route 173."

Read more: http://cbs13.com/topstories/local_story_297144458.html

[SteppingRazor]

5. Odd that they make such a big deal of him being a motorcyclist.

I mean, why does that belong in the headline, much less the story itself? :shrug:

[madinmaryland]

6. It was probably part of a police report, that indicated

someone had seen a motorcyclist that had stopped and appeared to start a fire.

:shrug: I don't know.

[TomInTib]

7. That is weird

What's next?

"Gay Christian Skater"?

"High-School Dropout"?

[eagler]

8. I hope he's not a Democrat

[brentspeak]

11. How come you have your profile disabled?

[frylock]

9. pedestrian?

[MGKrebs]

10. "Alfred"? Who's named Alfred anymore?

OK he's 48, but still...

[maddezmom]

12. California fire focus turns to arson suspects and blazes to the south

California fire focus turns to arson suspects and blazes to the south

Police in San Bernardino County shoot and kill a man they say was acting suspiciously; another is in custody after allegedly setting a blaze elsewhere in the county. A fifth evacuee has died.
By Hector Becerra, Tami Abdollah and Andrew Blankstein, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
3:49 PM PDT, October 24, 2007

In the fourth day of Southern California's massive battle with wildfires, officials welcomed better weather and shifted their attention to arson investigations and still-threatening blazes in Orange and San Diego counties. One man, who police said was acting suspiciously in brush near Cal State San Bernardino, was shot and killed. Another was arrested after allegedly setting a quickly extinguished fire in Hesperia.

In Riverside County, officials said investigators had determined that the 411-acre Rosa blaze in Temecula was intentionally set. Authorities had already said that a nearly 20,000-acre fire in Orange County was set by an arsonist, and today investigators from the FBI and county agencies were gathered near the intersection of Santiago Canyon and Silverado Canyon Roads.

"It's definitely arson and it's been deemed a crime scene," said Jim Amormino, spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff's Department.


more:http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-fires25oct25,1,7573406.story?track=rss

[maddezmom]

13. Officials: Arson Caused Santiago Fire

Officials: Arson Caused Santiago Fire
$70,000 Reward To Find The Arsonist
SAN DIEGO (CBS) ― CBS News has learned a task force of agencies, including the FBI, ATF, the Orange County Fire Authority and the California Department of Forestry will announce shortly that the massive Santiago Canyon Fire - which has caused an estimated $10 million in damage - is being officially declared an arson, and a $70,000 reward is being offered to find the arsonist.

Investigators have identified two separate "points of origin" where they believe the fire was set, CBS News has learned. FBI agents secured the scene to "maintain its integrity."

The Santiago Fire has burned about 19,200 acres east of Irvine, officials said, and it is around 30 percent contained. Six homes and eight outbuildings have been destroyed, with another eight homes and 12 outbuildings damaged. Four firefighters have been injured fighting the blaze and about 3,000 people evacuated.

~snip~

http://cbs3.com/national/Southern.California.wildfires.2.411959.html