CalFire Employee Arrested for Allegedly Setting Multiple Wildfires in Sonoma County

By Anthony W. Haddad

Published 8 months ago on

September 20, 2024

A CalFire employee has been arrested on suspicion of setting five wildfires in Sonoma County while off duty, according to authorities. (GV Wire Composite/Paul Marshall)

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

A CalFire employee has been arrested on suspicion of setting multiple wildfires in Sonoma County, CalFire said in a news release Friday.

Robert Hernandez, 38, of Healdsburg, was taken into custody by CalFire law enforcement officers at the Howard Forest Fire Station.

Hernandez, a fire apparatus engineer with the department, is accused of igniting five fires in areas near Geyserville, Healdsburg, and Windsor while off duty.

The fires include the Alexander Fire on Aug. 15, the Windsor River Road Fire on Sept. 8, the Geysers Fire on Sept. 12, and two additional fires in Geyser and Kinley on Saturday.

Authorities said the quick actions of residents and firefighting resources helped contain all five fires, which together burned less than an acre of wildland.

Hernandez has been charged with arson to forest land and will be booked into Sonoma County Jail, according to CalFire.

Information on Arson?

Anyone with information related to arson is encouraged to contact the CalFire Arson Hotline at 1-800-468-4408. Callers may remain anonymous.

For more information, visit www.fire.ca.gov.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Can Middle Schoolers Handle College? This San Jose School Is Finding Out

DON'T MISS

Clovis Police, ABC Cite Three for Giving Alcohol to Minors in Shoulder Tap Operation

DON'T MISS

Trump to Remove US Sanctions on Syria in Major Policy Shift

DON'T MISS

US Overdose Deaths Fell 27% Last Year, the Largest One-Year Decline Ever Seen

DON'T MISS

Debate Turns Raucous as House Panel Weighs Medicaid Cuts

DON'T MISS

California Democrats Restore Penalties in Teen Sex Trafficking Bill After Backlash

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Activity Shuts Down Stretch of Blackstone Avenue

DON'T MISS

Tulare County Authorities Seeks Suspects in Armed Carjacking

DON'T MISS

Trump Tariffs, Rising Health Care Costs Knock CA Budget Back Into Deficit

DON'T MISS

Waymo Recalls 1,200 Self-Driving Vehicles After Minor Collisions

UP NEXT

Clovis Police, ABC Cite Three for Giving Alcohol to Minors in Shoulder Tap Operation

UP NEXT

Trump to Remove US Sanctions on Syria in Major Policy Shift

UP NEXT

US Overdose Deaths Fell 27% Last Year, the Largest One-Year Decline Ever Seen

UP NEXT

Debate Turns Raucous as House Panel Weighs Medicaid Cuts

UP NEXT

California Democrats Restore Penalties in Teen Sex Trafficking Bill After Backlash

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Activity Shuts Down Stretch of Blackstone Avenue

UP NEXT

Tulare County Authorities Seeks Suspects in Armed Carjacking

UP NEXT

Trump Tariffs, Rising Health Care Costs Knock CA Budget Back Into Deficit

UP NEXT

Waymo Recalls 1,200 Self-Driving Vehicles After Minor Collisions

UP NEXT

How Ancient Reptile Footprints Are Rewriting the History of When Animals Evolved to Live on Land

Anthony W. Haddad,

Multimedia Journalist

Anthony W. Haddad, who graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with his undergraduate degree and attended Fresno State for a MBA, is the Swiss Army knife of GV Wire. He writes stories, manages social media, and represents the organization on the ground.