As his fellow firefighters battled devastating wildfires across Northern California, Cal Fire engineer Robert Hernandez is accused of starting his own blaze, authorities said.
According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Hernandez, 38, was arrested Friday morning on suspicion of starting wildfires in the Geyserville, Healdsburg and Windsor areas surrounding acres of privately owned forest land.
“I am shocked to learn that one of our employees would violate the public trust and attempt to undermine the tireless work of Cal Fire’s 12,000 men and women,” said Joe Tyler, the agency’s director and fire chief, in a statement.
A Cal Fire Department spokesman said the agency would not release any additional details.
Hernández’s case is unusual, but not unique.
Former Glendale Fire Capt. John Orr maintained his innocence even when he was sentenced in 1992 to 30 years in prison for setting fire to three San Joaquin Valley stores in 1987 while returning home from a detective conference in Fresno.
Orr, a 17-year veteran firefighter, was also sentenced to four consecutive prison terms for the 1984 fire at the Ole Home Center in South Pasadena.
Cal Fire officials allege Hernandez started five fires while off duty: the Alexander Fire on Aug. 15, the Windsor River Road Fire on Sept. 8, the Geyer Fire on Sept. 12, and the Geyser and Kinley Fires on Sept. 14.
The fire, in total, has burned less than an acre of forest land, according to Cal Fire, which has been partially depleted by firefighting resources directed by the agency.
Cal Fire said it was in the process of booking Hernandez into the Sonoma County Jail.
The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Hernandez had not been booked as of 11 a.m. Friday.
Cal Fire is asking residents to be on the lookout for suspicious persons when a fire breaks out.
Anyone with information about the potential fire is asked to contact the Cal Fire hotline at (800) 468-4408. Callers may remain anonymous.
