Firefighter Arrested for Alleged Arson
A California firefighter has been arrested and charged with arson, accused of setting five small fires in the state’s wine country, even as California faces devastating wildfires that have consumed nearly a million acres and displaced thousands. Robert Matthew Hernandez, a 38-year-old fire apparatus engineer from Healdsburg, California, was taken into custody on Friday, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).
Hernandez is alleged to have set the blazes while off-duty between August 15 and September 14 in Sonoma County, an area famed for its vineyards. While all the fires were quickly extinguished and burned less than an acre combined, the accusations have sent shockwaves through the firefighting community.
Cal Fire Chief Condemns Actions
Cal Fire Director and Chief Joe Tyler expressed his deep dismay over the arrest, stating, “I am appalled to learn one of our employees would violate the public’s trust and attempt to tarnish the tireless work of the 12,000 women and men of Cal Fire.” He emphasized that the alleged actions do not reflect the integrity of the department’s personnel, who have been working relentlessly to combat fires across the state.
Charges and Ongoing Investigation
Hernandez has been formally charged with five counts of arson to forest land. He remains in custody at Sonoma County Jail with bail set at $2 million. While Cal Fire has not disclosed further details about the investigation, officials have stated that a motive for the alleged crimes is unclear.
As of now, it is unknown whether Hernandez has retained legal counsel.
California’s Ongoing Wildfire Crisis
Hernandez’s arrest comes at a time when California is already grappling with widespread wildfires that have scorched vast areas of the state. Currently, three major blazes in the mountains around Los Angeles have destroyed over 230 homes and structures, forcing tens of thousands of residents to evacuate since early September.
According to Cal Fire data, California’s wildfires this year have consumed nearly four times as much land as the same period last year, reflecting the worsening fire season. Experts have attributed the growing intensity of these fires to bone-dry vegetation, record heat, and prolonged drought—conditions exacerbated by climate change.
