CBS News is reporting that one of the massive fires has been officially declared to have been started intentionally and authorities are offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of the arsonist(s). The Santiago fire has cased at least $10 million in damage so far.
(CBS/AP) CBS News has learned a task force of agencies, including the FBI, ATF, the Orange County Fire Authority and the California Department of Forestry will announce shortly that the massive Santiago Canyon Fire – which has caused an estimated $10 million in damage – is being officially declared an arson, and a $50,000 reward is being offered to find the arsonist.
Investigators have identified two separate "points of origin" where they believe the fire was set, CBS News has learned. FBI agents secured the scene to "maintain its integrity."
The Santiago Fire has burned about 19,200 acres east of Irvine, officials said, and it is around 30 percent contained. Six homes and eight outbuildings have been destroyed, with another eight homes and 12 outbuildings damaged. Four firefighters have been injured fighting the blaze and about 3,000 people evacuated.
The devastating wildfires in Southern California have caused at least $1 billion in damage in San Diego County alone, officials said Wednesday.
The second guessing, however, is on full display already. One official said that not enough air resources were available. This turns out not to be true, despite the lurid comments:
The state's top firefighter said Prather misstated the availability of firefighters and equipment. Eight of the state's nine water-dumping helicopters were in Southern California by Sunday, when the first fires began, along with 13 air tankers, said Ruben Grijalva, director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Grijalva said the fires, spread by wind that at times topped 100 mph, would have overwhelmed most efforts to fight them.
They had everything available. And if some or many of the fires were being set intentionally, there would not be enough equipment no matter what. So that kind of talk is counterproductive and unprofessional.
