As several wildfires continue to burn in Southern California, one person was arrested in connection with a fire that broke out in San Bernardino County Wednesday afternoon and the area was under a red flag warning.
The San Bernardino County Fire Protection District said crews responded to a fast-spreading brush fire at Little Mountain Drive and West Edgehill Road around 2 p.m. They were able to halt progress just before 4 p.m., by which time the fire had grown to 34 acres.
The San Bernardino Police Department also responded to the incident and later arrested a man on suspicion of two misdemeanor counts of reckless burning.
The incident comes on the heels of several recent arson arrests as Los Angeles battles two of the deadliest fires in California history.
On Monday, Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell elaborated Three recent arson arrests: A man suspected of using a barbecue lighter to start a fire in North Hollywood, a man suspected of burning brush in Sherman Oaks and a man suspected of setting a dumpster on fire in West LA
Last week, a transient man identified as Jose Carranza-Escobar was arrested on suspicion of arson Burning at Azusa. He later confessed to the crime, police said. Additionally, Juan Sierra was arrested Thursday by LA police and identified as a “person of interest” by the Ventura County Sheriff's Office. Kenneth Thee.
That fire burned more than 1,000 acres in the Hidden Hills and the mountains above Calabasas before it was 100% contained Sunday, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
A Little Mountain fire caused a temporary road closure on Little Mountain Drive from Edgehill Drive to Sheridan Road in San Bernardino on Wednesday. There were no reports of injuries or damage to buildings.
The fire was amid a red flag warning that expired Wednesday night. Eric Sherwin of the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District said Wednesday afternoon winds were blowing from the northeast at 20 mph.
Southern California is enduring a prolonged period of heightened fire danger — the day the Palisades and Eaton fires ignited on Jan. 7. With Wednesday's red flag warning having expired, winds are now expected to remain calm for the remainder of the week.
However, the National Weather Service says moderate winds will return to the Los Angeles region beginning Sunday night and through most of next week.
