The firefighter accused of starting the fire was a former prison firefighter

A Cal Fire engineer accused of setting several fires in Northern California had previously attended a firefighter training program while concurrently serving a six-year prison sentence for involuntary manslaughter, according to state corrections officials.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation told the 38-year-old Robert Matthew Hernandezwho was recently charged with multiple counts of arson, had participated in the prosecution Conservation Camp Program from April to December 2018.

The fire camps, about 35 in the state, are minimum-security facilities operated by the Cal Fire Department of Corrections and the Los Angeles County Fire Department. State officials say the program paves the way for employment opportunities and benefits for formerly incarcerated people.

Mary Xjimenez, a Department of Corrections spokeswoman, said Hernandez was transferred from San Bernardino County to the state prison in August 2017.

“He was sentenced to six years in prison for aggravated manslaughter while drunk,” she said. “He received credit for 756 days prior to sentencing for time served while awaiting sentencing and was eligible for credit while incarcerated.”

Among these opportunities to earn credit was the fire camp program.

Hernandez was released on parole in December 2018. The next year, Xjimenez said, he enrolled in the Ventura Training Center, a certification program designed to help formerly incarcerated people apply for entry-level firefighter jobs with local, state and federal fire departments.

Xjimenez said Hernandez completed his probation in November 2020.

Hernandez's most recent run-in with the law came a week ago, when the Healdsburg native allegedly started five off-duty fires: 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 occurred on Sept. 14, according to Cal Fire law enforcement.

Hernandez was charged Tuesday with five counts of arson. The Press Democrat, the first news outlet to report Hernandez's ties to the fire camp program, said Hernandez has not entered a plea and that his attorney, Orchid Vaghti, has declined to comment.

State corrections and fire officials said they were appalled to learn that Hernandez not only violated the public's trust but also tried to damage the work of firefighters.

“We strongly condemn the actions of each individual that endanger our communities and undermine the valuable contributions of Fire Camp participants,” Xjimenez said.