Cal Fire Engineer Accused of Starting Multiple Fires

A Cal Fire engineer stands accused of a stunning betrayal: starting five wildfires off duty.

At a Glance

Robert Hernandez, a 38-year-old Cal Fire engineer, was arrested for starting five wildfires.
The wildfires occurred between August 15 and September 14.
Hernandez faces six felony charges and is held on a $2 million bail.
Cal Fire Director Joe Tyler expressed dismay over the alleged breach of trust.

Engineer Arrested for Alleged Arson

Robert Hernandez, a 38-year-old fire apparatus engineer for Cal Fire, was arrested on allegations of starting five wildfires while off duty. Authorities apprehended Hernandez at the Howard Forest Fire Station in Willits, California. The arrest came after a thorough investigation into a string of wildfires that plagued Northern California between August 15 and September 14.

Hernandez was booked into the Sonoma County Jail, facing six felony charges: five counts of arson of forest land or structure and one count of arson during a state of emergency. According to reports, the specific fires Hernandez is suspected of starting include the Alexander Fire, Windsor River Road Fire, The Geysers Fire, Geyser Fire, and Kinley Fire. Cal Fire, however, did note that thanks to the work of multiple resources, the fires burned less than an acre of land total.

Public Reaction and Official Statements

Cal Fire Director Joe Tyler expressed profound disappointment and betrayal over the incident, emphasizing the breach of public trust. “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,” Tyler stated in a press release.

Cal Fire has thanked its community for its vigilance and information that led to Hernandez’s apprehension. “CAL FIRE would like to extend our thanks to the residents of the affected communities for their vigilance and information which helped in the apprehension of the suspect,” the agency said.

A Broader Problem and Recent Developments

Hernandez is one of many individuals arrested by Cal Fire for arson since September. The agency has detained 91 people this year alone and 923 since 2016. An absence of a national data collection system for firefighter arson complicates tracking these alarming incidents. A 2016 report by the National Volunteer Fire Council indicated over 100 firefighters get apprehended for arson annually based on news articles.

Earlier this month, another individual was arrested in connection to the Line Fire in San Bernardino County, facing multiple charges, including arson and causing great bodily injury. This highlights the ongoing struggle and vigilance needed to protect our forests and communities from such devastating crimes.