Firefighter, 38, is arrested after being accused of a very surprising crime

A California firefighter has been arrested by his own men after being accused of setting five fires in the state's wine region in recent weeks.

Robert Matthew Hernandez, a 38-year-old fire technician from Healdsburg, California, was arrested Friday by Cal Fire police officers on suspicion of arson at the Howard Forest Fire Station in Mendocino County.

His arrest comes as his fellow firefighters are still battling the flames that have already ravaged nearly 400,000 hectares of land and forced thousands of people to evacuate in the state this year.

Hernandez was accused of setting five fires in his off-duty hours in forested areas near Geyserville, Healdsburg and Windsor between Aug. 15 and Sept. 14, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) said.

These include the Alexander Fire on August 15, the Windsor River Road Fire on September 8, the Geysers Fire on September 12, and the Geyser and Kinley Fires on September 14.

The arrest came as his fellow firefighters are still battling the flames that have destroyed nearly a million acres of land this year and forced thousands of evacuations in the state.

“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,” said Joe Tyler, the agency's director and fire chief, in a statement.

Hernandez is said to have set the fires in Sonoma County, which is known for its wines and vineyards.

According to the fire department, all fires were extinguished by the fire brigade. Thanks to the quick intervention of residents and firefighters, less than one hectare of land burned in total.

The agency's ability to help capture Hernandez was thanks to the “vigilance” of local residents.

A Cal Fire spokesman said the agency could not provide further details at this time, but the motive was unclear.

Hernandez is an equipment engineer at the department and is responsible for operating and maintaining fire trucks and water tanks during emergency response.

Division Chief Cyndi Foreman said: “This is a bitter pill for all of us to swallow. That someone who is supposed to be out in the community protecting us is putting us all in danger.”

Hernandez was arrested by Cal Fire police officers on Friday on suspicion of arson at the Howard Forest Fire Station (pictured).

He was formally charged with five counts of arson on wooded property. Hernandez was being held in the Sonoma County Jail on $2 million bail Saturday, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office said. Hernandez is expected in court on Tuesday.

His estranged wife, who did not want to give her name, said she was “speechless” when she learned of the allegations.

“I am 100 percent in shock,” she told ABC7. “This is a bitter pill for all of us to swallow.”

Cyndi Foreman, division chief of the Sonoma County Fire District, said, “This is someone who is supposed to be in the community protecting us. But in reality, they are putting all of us in danger.”

Meanwhile, wildfires continue to rage across the state.

Three fires in the mountains surrounding Los Angeles have destroyed more than 230 homes and other buildings since September 5 and forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate suburbs and cities.

According to Cal Fire data, wildfires in California have burned nearly four times as much land so far this year as they did at this time last year, when the state's fire season was milder.

According to climate scientists, bone-dry vegetation has made the fires worse in the record heat, which is blamed on climate change.

The National Volunteer Fire Council points out that there is no national data collection system for arsons by firefighters.

“Without an official source of data on arson among firefighters, researchers, fire chiefs and investigators are forced to extrapolate from samples of known cases,” the report said. “An examination of newspaper articles suggests that over 100 firefighters are arrested for arson each year.”

As of Sept. 1, Cal Fire police officers have arrested 91 suspected arsonists this year, the agency said.

It was thanks to the “vigilance” of the residents that the agency was able to catch Hernandez, whose fire burned less than one hectare of land in total.

As of Sept. 1, Cal Fire officers have arrested 91 suspected arsonists this year, the agency said. Above, firefighters work to bring the July park fire, which was sparked by arson, under control

Last Tuesday, a delivery driver pleaded not guilty to starting the massive Line Fire on September 5. The blaze forced the evacuation of thousands of people east of Los Angeles, injured a firefighter and destroyed a home.

According to court documents, 34-year-old Justin Wayne Halstenberg was charged with 11 counts of arson.

According to authorities, Halstenberg, of Norco, attempted to set three fires within an hour.

Two of the fires were extinguished by firefighters and a Good Samaritan, and a third became the Line Fire that has charred 61 square miles in the San Bernardino Mountains. It was 60 percent contained as of Saturday.

In July, a man was arrested on suspicion of starting the Northern California park fire by pushing a burning car into a ravine.

Ronnie Dean Stout was charged with arson of an inhabited building or grounds. He pleaded not guilty.