By Wealthy McKay
(Reuters) – A California firefighter has been arrested and accused of setting 5 blazes within the state’s wine nation, whilst his fellow firefighters battle flames which have consumed nearly 1,000,000 acres and compelled 1000’s of evacuations within the state this yr.
Robert Matthew Hernandez, a 38-year-old hearth equipment engineer of Healdsburg, California, was arrested on Friday on suspicion of arson.
He was accused of setting 5 fires between Aug. 15 and Sept. 14 whereas off-duty, the California Division of Forestry and Fireplace Safety, or Cal Fireplace, mentioned in a information launch.
“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,” Joe Tyler, the company’s director and hearth chief, mentioned in an announcement to media.
It was not instantly clear if Hernandez had retained a lawyer.
Hernandez allegedly ignited the blazes in Sonoma County, identified for its wines and vineyards. The fires had been all extinguished by hearth crews and burned lower than one acre mixed, in accordance with the fireplace company.
A Cal Fireplace spokesperson mentioned the company wouldn’t present additional particulars right now. A motive was unclear.
Hernandez was formally charged with 5 counts of arson to forest land. He was being held in lieu of $2 million bail within the Sonoma County Jail on Saturday, in accordance with the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Workplace.
Wildfires are nonetheless raging throughout the state.
Three blazes in mountains round Los Angeles, the second-largest U.S. metropolis, have destroyed greater than 230 homes and different constructions, forcing tens of 1000’s of individuals to evacuate suburbs and cities since Sept. 5.
California wildfires have up to now this yr burned almost 4 occasions as a lot land as final yr right now when the state’s hearth season was extra benign, in accordance with Cal Fireplace information.
Bone-dry vegetation amid file warmth blamed on local weather change has been making fires worse, in accordance with local weather scientists.
