Arson Suspected In California Blaze That Killed Four Firefighters
Posted October 28, 2006 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A wildfire that’s already claimed the life of four firefighters and left a fifth in critical condition with burns on 90 per cent of his body, is making short work of southern California as it rips through the state’s canyons.
Crews struggled to build fire lines to contain the sprawling blaze Saturday, while investigators set out to search for leads into who may have caused the danger. Meanwhile, smoke, darkness and bad weather hamper firefighters’ efforts.
“We still have pretty strong winds on it, and it’s in some pretty steep, inaccessible terrain,” said Don Feely, a California Department of Forestry spokesman.
The fire broke out early Thursday, about 145 kilometres east of Los Angeles. By Friday night, authorities said it was 25 per cent contained.
A series of canyon fires in recent months, including one last weekend, has investigators worried a serial arsonist might be involved.
“There’s been a lot of fires in this area all summer long. You can connect the dots,” said Michael Wakowski, a fire division chief in the San Bernardino National Forest
Rewards for information leading to the arsonist totaled to $500,000 Friday, and the blaze is credited with destroying 10 structures, forcing 700 people to flee, and flushing coyotes and other wildlife into the open.
More than 2,070 firefighters worked to corral the flames with the help of a DC-10 jet capable of dropping 12,000-gallon loads of retardant and a fleet of helicopters and airtankers. Meanwhile about 400 people remained evacuated Friday night from the tiny town of Poppet Flat.
The area where the fire started is close to a teenage hangout known as Raccoon Rock. Area resident Tim Bowers said Thursday night he was awakened by flames about 100 metres away and said two unfamiliar young men walked away from the fire.
“I looked at them. They looked at me. Then they turned their heads and kept walking,” Bowers said.
