That big California fire

[nancylebov]

There've been news reports saying the authorities think it was arson, but no mention of why they think so. Was there an explanation I've missed?

Comments

[ritaxis.livejournal.com]

There are other things that I can't recall -- though they're witholding a lot of their information during the investigation -- but the news said that a number of people saw a couple of young men leaving the area where the fire started.

Arson, especially this close to the end of the dry season,really is murder (or attempted murder if no people die). Arson that results in the death of firefighters is monstrously heavy. My daughter's boyfriend's father was two or three firefighters away from having to go down there. But even without Neal in the family, I can't help being aghast. Aghast, but not surprised: the Zgadlow boys across the street used to set fires in vacant lots, which meant that the neighbors were out there with wet blankets and hoses more than once a year.

[nancylebov.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I was wondering why they were so sure it was arson rather than accident or negligance.

[cynthia1960.livejournal.com]

The fifth firefighter down in Riverside County just died from his horrific injuries; that arsonist is looking at five counts of murder.

Setting fires during Santa Ana season is a truly evil thing; the fires are so unpredictable. I still have visions of the 1991 Oakland/Berkeley hills firestorm.

[rimrunner.livejournal.com]

An arrest has been made (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/31/AR2006103100195.html). Not for last week, but for two wildfires set back in June. However, he's being described as a "person of interest".

The article also mentions ritaxis's point about two men being seen leaving the area where the fire started. Anecdotally, ISTR reading that the pattern of a fire's spread and the ash and other byproducts can tell you a lot about how the fire started. The presence of an accelerant, for instance, would be a pretty solid indication that the fire wasn't accidental.