What started as a string of tiny brush fires beneath State Route 125 in Bonita turned into an arson investigation yesterday, after deputies arrested a man near the scene and fire crews quickly stomped out the flames.
Authorities said multiple small ignitions burned about one-quarter acre of vegetation under the freeway before firefighters knocked them down. Sheriff’s investigators have since launched an arson probe into the clustered fires.
According to a news release from the San Diego County Sheriff's Office, deputies from the Rancho San Diego and Imperial Beach stations responded around 11 a.m. to reports of several small fires in the 5700 block of Quarry Road, near SR-125 and SR-54. With help from witnesses and aerial support from the sheriff's helicopter ASTREA, deputies found a male suspect hiding in nearby bushes and detained him.
During a probation compliance search, deputies said they found narcotics paraphernalia, a torch lighter, an expandable baton, and numerous credit cards and identification cards that did not belong to the suspect, according to NBC 7 San Diego.
Bomb/Arson Unit Documents Six Ignitions
The sheriff's Bomb/Arson Unit documented six separate small fires clustered beneath the SR-125 overpass and estimated that roughly one-quarter acre of vegetation burned, according to the sheriff's news release. Fire crews extinguished the flames, and officials reported no structural damage.
Evidence and Public Tips
Investigators are still piecing together how the fires started and are asking for extra eyes from anyone who was in the area yesterday. Authorities urged anyone with information about the incidents to contact the San Diego County Sheriff's Office tip line at 858-868-3200, as reported by NBC 7 San Diego. The sheriff's release lists Lt. Chris Galve as the media contact for the case.
Investigation Ongoing
The arrest was made at the scene, and deputies booked the suspect on narcotics, weapons, and identity-theft related counts while arson investigators continue to examine the evidence, as detailed by CBS 8. Officials have not released the suspect's name or age and said the probe remains active.
Why It Matters Locally
The case is the latest in a series of brush-fire-related arrests handled by county agencies in recent months. Earlier arson probes in the region have led to felony charges and multi-agency responses, according to reporting by the Times of San Diego. Local authorities say fast witness reports and quick-moving aerial resources often make the difference between a small roadside burn and a fire threatening nearby neighborhoods and highways.
