A homeless man suspected of attempting to start fires, including one that charred four acres of brush along an Anaheim Freeway, was in custody Tuesday.
Firefighters were called Monday to respond to a vegetation fire south of the Riverside (91) Freeway, west of Gypsum Canyon Road, according to Daron Wyatt of Anaheim Fire and Rescue.
More than 70 firefighters, along with a helicopter and two air tankers, worked together to stop the progress of the fire in about an hour, Wyatt said.
No injuries were reported and no structures were threatened or damaged, Wyatt said.
While crews were working to contain the fire, additional calls were received regarding a male suspect seen lighting brush fires along the south side of the freeway, west of the burning fire.
That suspect was detained by officers from the California Highway Patrol and ultimately arrested by police, Wyatt said.
Victor Luis Flores, 22, was booked into the Anaheim Detention Facility on three counts of arson and will be held on the statutorily set bail of $70,000 as well as a $20,000 narcotics warrant, Wyatt said.
Based on the circumstances, investigators will request the bail be increased to $250,000, Wyatt said.
“While the cause of the Gypsum Fire has not yet been determined, it is suspected the fire was intentionally set,” Wyatt said.
—City News Service