According to Leitch, the man is a suspect in 13 intentionally set fires that burned more than 100 acres. Due to past convictions of theft, felony check forgery, and issuing a bomb threat, the suspect failed a routine background check when he applied to the fire department, but the local mayor allowed him to be hired. The defendant was convicted in January 2011 and sentenced in March 2011 to 80 days in jail along with paying $76,000 in restitution.The suspected arsonist was a member of several fire departments in the area and Maine Forest Rangers observed a repetition of involvement. Oftentimes he was quick to a fire scene, or he would call Rangers to offer his assistance but be found close by to other fire starts in the same time frame.During investigations of individual fires, Rangers found fire scenes lacking evidence with assumptions made that the suspect was using a lighter to start the fires. It covers much of the western half of the country: He was sentenced to 15 years, with one year confinement and the remaining 14 on probation, and was ordered to pay $25,168 in restitution and an additional $3,500 in fines.It wasn’t sleight of hand but more a matter of following the nose. Initially, no evidence was recovered, but based on interviews with the fire chief and incident commander, arson was suspected.Empty Natural Light beer cans were discarded near the point of origin. In the 1990’s, the same man was found guilty on three other arson charges in central Maine and spent considerable time in jail for these crimes.The suspect, from nearby Beaumont, used a combination of matches and cigarettes to start a fire in Cabazon at the base of the San Jacinto Mountains and used a slingshot to launch incendiary devices into the brush.
The Oregon Department of Forestry said that separate fires merged into one blaze and have since burned about 382 acres on private forestland near Mapleton.Dozens of households are under evacuation orders due to the blaze, which is burning in the steep terrain on the south side of the Siuslaw River, Forestry officials said that helicopters have been dropping water on the blaze, which is now 15% contained.A change in the weather pattern in Oregon, including higher temperatures and lower humidity, will also usher in the potential for gusty winds. Surveillance cameras were also used to track the suspect, which led to a warrant being obtained to install a tracking device on his vehicle. "These conditions, combined with extremely dry fuels, will test fire lines over the next few days," the The Red Cross is currently providing accommodations for those affected by the blaze.Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inboxThis material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Hills Fire is currently 1,500 acres and 35% contained.The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash. The Old Fire was set on Oct. 25, 2003 in the San Bernardino Mountains. "Have you noticed the colorful sunsets lately? A man has been detained on arson charges in connection with a wildfire burning thousands of acres in Northern California.California State Parks officials detained Ivan Geronimo Gomez, 30, near the origin of the Dolan Fire in Big Sur and he was booked into Monterey County Jail on charges of arson of forest lands, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. The driver admitted to setting the fire trying to burn out a fence row.
“In addition to Ware County Sheriff’s Deputies, others involved represent the Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the Charlton, Brantley and Pierce County Sheriff’s Office and the Ware County Fire Department. The quick response to the fires by Maine Forest Rangers was instrumental in keeping damage to a minimum.The defendant pleaded guilty to aggravated criminal mischief charge, while the five counts of arson were dismissed in a plea agreement in Washington County Superior Court. In all, Cal Fire estimates that over 300,000 acres have burned.The LNU Lightning Complex is a group of many separate fires in Northern California, stretching over five counties. All market data delayed 20 minutes.Travis Fedschun is a reporter for FoxNews.com.