A 56-year-old Fullerton man has been charged with starting a brush fire that burned more than 80 acres as it spread from Fullerton to La Habra, authorities said Friday.
Paul Munoz is accused of one felony count of unlawfully causing fire of a structure or forest and one misdemeanor count of trespassing on private property, Roxi Fyad of the Orange County District Attorney‘s said.
Prosecutors say that about 3:45 p.m. Tuesday, Munoz trespassed onto property in the area of West Coyote Hills near Gilbert Street and Castlewood Drive in Fullerton and starting a fire in a transient encampment.
The flames spread toward South Idaho Street and West Risner Way in La Habra, scorching approximately 80 acres, Fyad said.
The fire was fully contained on Wednesday and Munoz was arrested by Fullerton police on Thursday, according to Fyad.
If convicted, Munoz faces a maximum 3-year prison sentence, Fyad said.
— City News Service