California Fire Agency Engineer Arrested for Suspected Arson After 5 Wildfires

The Cal Fire employee allegedly ignited the fires on purpose while he was off duty.

Firefighters from Cal Fire work to contain a wildfire that blackened 187 acres in the Agua Caliente area of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in eastern San Diego County, Calif., on June 2, 2024. Courtesy of Cal FIRE San Diego

A California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection employee was arrested on Friday for allegedly setting five small fires on forest lands in the state while off duty, according to officials.

Robert Hernandez, a 38-year-old fire apparatus engineer with Cal Fire, was accused of starting fires near the areas of Geyserville, Healdsburg, and Windsor between Aug. 15 and Sept. 14, the state agency said.