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Home > News & Columns > News Staff Member > Highway 18 Spot Fires Accidental (Update)

Highway 18 Spot Fires Accidental (Update)

Investigator Can Possibly Offer Additional Details

By News Staff Member
Thursday, April 3, 2008

EDITOR'S NOTE: RIMOFTHEWORLD.net has been informed that San Bernardino City Fire Arson Investigator John Payan is on personal family leave and is expected back in the office next week. RIMOFTHEWORLD.net is seeking clarification about the ignition of the spot fires and why they are now considered accidental. As soon as that information is received it will be posted.

Update — Saturday 4:45 a.m.

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San Bernardino, CA - A series of small spot fires on Highway 18 near lower Waterman Canyon Road in San Bernardino around 4:15 p.m. March 27 have now been labeled accidental.

Investigators from the San Bernardino City Fire Department explain the fires were indeed started by items tossed out the window of a vehicle as it made its way towards lower Waterman Canyon Road but that the act was accidental.

The six spot fires were extinguished by motorists before fire units could reach the scene.

Update — Friday 4:35 a.m.

San Bernardino, CA - Six spot fires that burned brush along Highway 18 late yesterday have been classified as "suspicious."

Fire officials report the spot fires on the right shoulder of the roadway between Sierra Way and Lower Waterman Canyon Road are still under investigation.

Several motorists were credited with stopping to extinguish the blazes before they had a chance to spread. The fires were basically out by the time the first San Bernardino City Fire Department units arrived.

Authorities received numerous 911 calls from individuals who reported a white pick-up truck was seen driving through the area with the occupant or occupants tossing things from the vehicle before the small fires ignited.

Investigators quickly marked off one of six spot fires along Highway 18 Thursday afternoon and now believe the fires were accidental. Several passing motorists stopped to put out the fires before the San Bernardino City Fire Department could reach the scene. (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

Original Story — Thursday

Fire officials received multiple reports of a series of small spot fires from near Sierra Way to lower Waterman Canyon Road in San Bernardino around 4:15 PM. Multiple witnesses reported seeing two white males in a white Toyota pickup truck throwing burning material from the window, according to scanner reports.

Ken Harp, Patrol Captain for the US Forest Service, told RIMOFTHEWORLD.net there were a total of six spot fires. Officials are investigating the incident, however, they state the cause is likely mechanical similar to the spot fires on Highway 38 on Monday, March 24. See Catalytic Converter for story.

Forest Service law enforcement personnel Rex Evans (left) and Ken Harp look for ignition points of spot fires just off Highway 18 Thursday afternoon. (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

A motorist reported the fires to the San Bernardino City Fire Department. About 20 other motorists had stopped to help extinguish the flames. The largest spot fire was about four to five feet in diameter.

Fire officials and law enforcement are deployed in every turnout as firefighters from Crest Forest, CALFIRE, the US Forest Service, and San Bernardino City are on the scene of the fires.

An airship was launched to help locate the possible suspects. Anyone spotting a suspicious vehicle matching the description should notify 9-1-1.

Up bound traffic between Sierra Way and Lower Waterman Canyon Road is reduced to one lane. Motorists are advised to use caution as emergency vehicles are working along the highway.

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