More than a half-dozen felony charges were filed Tuesday against a felon accused of starting multiple fires with a blowtorch in an area west of Blythe.
Daniel Vaca Alvarez of Mesa Verde, 29, who was arrested last Friday, is charged with two counts of arson of a non-dwelling, five counts of arson of property, and other offenses.
Alvarez remains held on $50,000 in the Blythe Jail and is scheduled to make his initial court appearance Wednesday.
Deputies responded to a call about a brush fire at about 9:15 a.m. Friday off a dirt road near Mesa Drive and Blythe Way in the unincorporated community of Mesa Verde, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
Responding deputies found several brush and structure fires, and allegedly spotted Alvarez fleeing the area with a propane blowtorch in hand, according to Sgt. Bryan Berryman.
After a brief foot pursuit, Alvarez was taken into custody, Berryman said.
Alvarez has felony convictions including spousal abuse and possession of a controlled substance.