A Cal Fire employee in Sonoma County was arrested Friday on suspicion of arson after allegedly setting multiple fires over the past month, officials said.
According to a statement from the agency, Robert Hernandez, 38, of Healdsburg, was arrested around 8 a.m. at the Howard Forest Fire Station in Mendocino County. Hernandez works for Cal Fire as a fire engine technician.
“I was shocked to learn that one of our employees would violate the public trust and attempt to tarnish the tireless work of the 12,000 women and men of CAL FIRE,” said Joe Tyler, the agency’s director and fire chief.
Officials said Hernandez is suspected in at least five fires in the Geyserville, Healdsburg and Windsor areas of Sonoma County. The fires include the Alexander Fire on Aug. 15, the Windsor River Road Fire on Sept. 8, the Geysers Fire on Sept. 12, and the Geyser and Kinley fires, which occurred on Sept. 14.
All five fires were set while Hernandez was off duty. The fires burned less than an acre combined, which Cal Fire attributes to the quick actions of residents and firefighting resources.
Hernandez is being held in the Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of arson in a wooded area. Jail records show he is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.
Cal Fire officials reported that their law enforcement officers have arrested 91 suspected arsonists so far this month.
Anyone with information regarding arson is urged to contact the Cal Fire Arson Hotline at 1-800-468-4408.
