A woman allegedly ignited several small fires in Perris Thursday, prompting a search for the suspected arsonist.
The blazes were reported about 10:45 a.m. Thursday in the area of West Seventh Street and Shawnee Road, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
The agency said that the suspect, whose identity was not immediately known, was spotted by witnesses igniting the fires, one of which was a 20-by-20-foot spot, and fleeing.
She was armed with a knife.
Sheriff’s deputies and firefighters converged on the area minutes later, and the fires were quickly extinguished. No structures were damaged.
Deputies and Cal Fire arson investigations initiated a search for the suspect, with the help of a sheriff’s STAR-9 helicopter crew.
As of 11:30 a.m., the search was still underway.