A female parolee remained behind bars Tuesday on suspicion of setting two blazes in Palm Springs, including one that injured a firefighter and damaged a casita at a Palm Springs residence.
Alba Espinoza, 52, of Palm Springs, was arrested Monday at the scene of the second blaze and was being held without bail, according to the Palm Springs Police Department.
Espinoza was booked at the Indio Jail on suspicion of arson, aggravated arson, being in possession of an incendiary device and violating parole, police reported. According to jail records, she will appear at the Larson Justice Center in Indio as soon as Wednesday.
About 4:50 a.m. Monday, the Palm Springs Fire Department received a call of a blaze to the rear of a business in the 300 block of S. Palm Canyon Drive. According to a police statement, “the fire was contained to a stack of debris on the exterior of the location and the fire was believed to be a result of arson,” and the suspect was described as a woman wearing an oversized blue shirt.
About 11:30 a.m., Palm Springs police and fire personnel responded to reports of a brush fire in the 300 block of Calle Abronia that spread to a nearby unoccupied residence.
Espinoza was arrested at the scene after being identified as the person who allegedly started the brush fire and the initial debris fire, according to police.
Palm Springs Fire Department Capt. Nathan Gunkel said no one was injured in the first fire, which was quickly extinguished.
Gunkel said one firefighter who battled the second blaze was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of injuries of unspecified severity.
That blaze heavily damaged a casita, Gunkel said, adding that crews had the fire was contained in about 15 minutes.