Cal Fire employee arrested on suspicion of arson – NBC Bay Area

A Cal Fire employee was arrested Friday on suspicion of setting five small fires in the North Bay this summer, Cal Fire said.

Robert Hernandez, 38, of Healdsburg, is booked into the Sonoma County Jail on charges of arson on forest land in connection with the fires in the Geyserville, Healdsburg and Windsor areas, Cal Fire said.

“I am appalled that one of our employees would abuse the public's trust and attempt to tarnish the tireless work of the 12,000 women and men of CAL FIRE,” Cal Fire Director and Fire Chief Joe Tyler said in a statement.

Hernandez, a fire apparatus engineer, is accused of setting the following fires while off duty: 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 on Sept. 14, according to Cal Fire.

All five fires together burned less than one hectare of land, Cal Fire said, citing the quick response of residents and firefighters.