Cal Fire firefighter arrested for allegedly setting five fires in North Bay

HEALDSBURG, California. – A Cal Fire firefighter was arrested Friday for allegedly setting five fires in the North Bay while off duty in recent weeks.

At 8 a.m. Friday, Cal Fire officers arrested Robert Hernandez, 38, of Healdsburg, at the agency's Howard Forest station in Mendocino County on suspicion of arson on forest lands in the Geyserville, Healdsburg and Windsor areas.

Fire officials believe Hernandez, a fire apparatus engineer, started 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.

All five fires combined have destroyed less than one acre of woodland, thanks to quick response from local residents and firefighting resources, Cal Fire said. Hernandez is being booked into the Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of arson in woodland.

“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,” Director and Fire Chief Joe Tyler said in a statement.

The agency thanked residents of the affected communities for their vigilance and information that contributed to the capture of the suspect.

Cal Fire said people should be vigilant in their preparations and watch for suspicious people when a fire breaks out. Suspicious activity should be reported, including the time, physical description of the person and a vehicle description, including license plate number. They said one should always contact police and not a suspicious person.

Anyone with information about arson is asked to call Cal Fire's arson hotline at (800) 468-4408. Callers may remain anonymous.

The agency's police officers have arrested 91 suspected arsonists this year through Sept. 1, up from 923 since 2016. For more information, visit the Cal Fire website.