http://www.fresnobee.com/state_wire/story/9136806p-10036639c.html
http://www.fresnobee.com/local/crime/story/9136796p-10036372c.html
http://www.fresnobee.com/updates/metro/story/9136620p-10036524c.html
Arson suspect held in blaze threatening Mariposa
The Associated Press
MARIPOSA, Calif. (AP) - As firefighters in California mourned the death of
one of their own Monday, fire crews worked to contain a separate wildfire
threatening this western Sierra Nevada town about 50 miles south of the
fatal blaze in the Stanislaus National Forest.
A 34-year-old man remained in custody on an arson charge related to the fire
skirting the north side of Mariposa. By Monday afternoon, it had burned
2,000 acres of chaparral and dead standing oak trees on a hill above the
community's high school, the California Department of Forestry and Fire
Protection reported.
CDF Capt. Greg Grizzell said officials allege that Brian Chambers
intentionally set the fire with a match inserted inside a cigarette.
He was being held at the Mariposa County Jail on $75,000 bail. Records
released by the sheriff's department showed that he served about four months
of a one-year sentence in county jail for making a false bomb threat.
Chambers also is a suspect in a string of other intentionally set fires in
Mariposa over the last two weeks, Grizzell said. The most recent blaze
started just before 4 p.m. Sunday. All the schools in Mariposa were closed
Monday, and about 300 homes in the town of 1,400 residents were evacuated.
No structures had been reported damaged by late afternoon.
"The whole town has stopped and watched," said Olivia Luke, a CDF
spokeswoman. "It almost looks like a volcano has erupted there is so much
ash and so much smoke - miles and miles of it."
More than 600 firefighters were on the lines, with another 500 on the way.
By midday, CDF officials estimated the fire was 15 percent contained.
Although fire officials are accustomed to managing multiple fires during
California's dry late summers, the proximity of the two Monday was made all
the more challenging by Sunday's death of a 24-year-old helicopter crew
member.
Eva Schicke became the first female firefighter from the California
Department of Forestry to die in the line of duty. She was killed after she
and six other firefighters were dropped into rugged terrain just outside
Yosemite National Park and overrun by the flames.
Her crew members were released after being treated for their injuries.
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Suspect arrested in fire near Mariposa
A 34-year-old man was arrested Sunday night in a fire that was burning out
of control near Mariposa, the state Department of Forestry said.
The fire in steep terrain burned more than 300 acres of brush and was
continuing to endanger homes in and around the town of Mariposa.
More than 200 structures were threatened by the Old Highway fire, and
several homes had been evacuated Sunday night, said Capt. Greg Grizzell.
Highways and roads were closed to traffic or escorts were being used to
assist motorists throughout the night.
The fire began about 3:45 p.m. in steep terrain on Old Highway North near
Highway 140. A large cloud of smoke from the fire was visible to the north
from northwest Fresno. The fire was nearing Mariposa High School and the
community's sewage treatment plant. There was no immediate indication about
whether schools would be closed today.
The cause of the fire is believed to be arson.
Brian Chambers was being investigated on suspicion of starting Sunday's
fire. He also was being questioned in connection with a number of other
blazes that have plagued Mariposa County this summer. Grizzell said Sunday's
fire is believed to have been ignited with a cigarette.
No injuries were reported Sunday night.
About 600 firefighters were working to contain the fire Sunday night.
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Fire still burns near Mariposa
A wildfire burning above Mariposa forced school to be canceled today as
firefighters struggled to contain the blaze.
The California Department of Forestry reported at 6 a.m. that the Old
Highway Fire had grown to 2,000 acres and was 15% contained. There was no
estimate of when it would be fully contained.
No structures had been burned and no injuries were reported. Residents on
Allred Road were evacuated.
More than 600 people were fighting the fire from several agencies including
two engines with Clovis Fire Department crews. One of the Clovis engines is
from the state Office of Emergency Services.
