Firefighter in California detained under accusations of initiating five separate wildfires.
The fire truck operative, Robert Hernandez, aged 38, was apprehended by Cal Fire Law Enforcement personnel at a fire station in Mendocino County, California, under allegations of "setting forest land ablaze," as stated in a communique from the department.
I'm deeply dismayed to discover that one of our staff members has chosen to betray the public's faith and aim to smear the relentless efforts of the 12,000 females and males serving at CAL FIRE," declared Fire Director and Chief Joe Tyler in the communique, praising the community's "vigilance" for aiding in the capture of Hernandez.
Hernandez is suspected of starting five deliberate fires, during his off-duty hours, between August 15 and September 14. All the blazes were situated in Sonoma County, as per the communique.
Swift actions by locals and firefighting teams minimized the damages from these fires, reported Cal Fire, with the combined fires only scorching a single acre of land.
The National Volunteer Fire Council mentioned in a 2016 study that there's no nationwide collection system for data on firefighter arson cases.
“Without an official source for data on arsonist firefighters, researchers, fire service leaders, and investigators are compelled to make estimates based on a subset of recognized cases,” the study asserted. “A survey of news articles suggests that over 100 firefighters are apprehended annually for arson.”
Hernandez is anticipated to be processed at Sonoma County Jail on charges of setting forest land ablaze, but as of early Friday afternoon, he was yet to appear on the jail's register. It remains uncertain if Hernandez has secured legal counsel.
Lately, a 34-year-old individual was apprehended with regard to the ongoing Line Fire in San Bernardino County. He faces nine charges, including those related to arson causing damages exceeding $7 million, inflicting severe bodily harm on a firefighter who sustained a broken ankle and the destruction of a house in the Running Springs community, announced San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson.
Since September 1, Cal Fire law enforcement officials have detained 91 suspected arsonists this year, the agency disclosed. Since 2016, Cal Fire has detained 923 suspected arsonists.
We must stand united in support of our fellow firefighters, who work tirelessly to protect our communities, especially in light of this recent incident involving one of our own. It's disheartening to know that US firefighters, like Hernandez, can betray this trust and put lives at risk.
