Arsonist Stoke Fear of Fires (June, 12, 2006 Press Enterprise) Investigators Look into 40-plus blazes from Rialto to Yucca Valley and Cajon Pass...

I know since we have an Arsonist working in our area, why don't we cut the Forest service Fire Suppression Unit by half!! Yes, that would be fun wouldn't we will just lay them all off, if for some sudden Reason, OH, I don't know say this fire bug lights a Good one using the Santa Ana Winds to back him up this time, it was done in 2003, and I don't think that the guy in 2003 was even caught!! That doesn't matter we will just cut all this staff back to half of what it is now and we will see what happens!!

Lets just Pray that the Arson suspect is caught!! I would hate to think that it was one of their own!!

BSRancher...

Arsons stoke fear of fires

COMPARING NOTES: Investigators look into 40-plus blazes from Rialto to Yucca Valley and Cajon Pass.

11:48 PM PDT on Monday, June 12, 2006

By LISA B. McPHERON
The Press-Enterprise

More than 40 arsons in San Bernardino and Riverside counties have occurred since the beginning of May. Fires have been set in: Joshua Tree Yucca Valley San Jacinto Mountains Banning Cabazon Yucaipa Redlands San Bernardino Mountains Colton Rialto Cajon Pass Anyone with information is asked to contact a fire department. Source: officials with San Bernardino National Forest, Redlands and Riverside County fire departments

Dozens of small arsons have ushered in the 2006 Inland fire season, officials say.

More than 40 arsons have been set since the beginning of May over a swath spanning Yucca Valley, northern Riverside County and the Cajon Pass.

That is an unusual surge, said Rocky Oplinger, deputy chief of Fire and Aviation Operations for the San Bernardino National Forest.

"The concern is how many," Oplinger said. "They're spread out throughout the forest and all the jurisdictions."

In response, fire investigators and law-enforcement officials from agencies in Riverside and San Bernardino counties have started an informal task force to share information.

"We're pooling all that information now," said Rich Lindner, chief fire investigator for the Redlands Fire Department. "All the different departments have stepped up their patrols."

Fire officials say a handful of people has been starting the fires, because of distances involved and various methods used, Oplinger said. Specific information on the exact number of fires, their locations or how they were set is not being released.

Lindner predicted that it's just a matter of time until a witness spots someone starting a fire and an arrest is made.

Since Redlands Police Department's volunteers started regular patrols of the city's canyon areas earlier this month, no arsons have been set, Lindner said.

"We're staying up on it and vigilant," he said.

Investigators have leads in some cases.

A runaway teenager from Oklahoma was arrested and charged with arson in connection with three brush fires on May 23 in Rialto, said Brian Park, spokesman for the Rialto Fire Department.

San Bernardino County sheriff's detectives hope to identify a suspect by processing fingerprints off a rudimentary incendiary device found June 5 in the Green Valley Lake area, said Detective James Bergandahl, of the Twin Peaks sheriff's station.

None of the recent arsons has threatened lives or damaged buildings, but the potential is there as weather becomes hotter and vegetation dries out, Olpinger said.

Red flag warnings were issued Monday by the National Weather Service for some mountain and desert communities. Warnings are issued when fire danger is great because of high temperatures, low humidity and windy conditions.

The warnings are in effect until tonight for mountain areas above 5,500 feet in Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties. Apple Valley and Yucca Valley are under watch until 9 p.m.

This past weekend, three arsons were set in the San Bernardino National Forest while hundreds of firefighters worked on two lightning-caused fires, Oplinger said.

The larger lightning fire, named the Arrastre Wildfire, burned 327 acres six miles east of Big Bear City and required almost 700 firefighters, according to a Forest Services news release.

"A wildfire is a natural disaster, but it's the only natural disaster that can be caused by man," said Laura Dyberg, president of the Mountain Rim Fire Safe Council. "We have been fortunate that they have been caught early. ... I know our fire agencies are very much alert and ready."

Dyberg, who runs the fire-education program for the San Bernardino National Forest Association, worries that arson fires will strain resources when there are naturally caused fires.

"It's very, very frightening," she said. "It's a terrorist situation because they are terrorizing the mountain communities."

Reach Lisa B. McPheron at 909-806-3064 or lmcpheron@PE.com