One Arrested After Allegedly Setting 25-Acre River Bottom Fire Thursday

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VICTORVILLE – One male suspect was arrested for suspected arson after a fire broke out at the river bottom near Mojave Narrows near Ridgecrest and Yates Road on Thursday.

At around 11:25 a.m. a fire was reported near Mojave Narrows Regional Park. While firefighters were en route they witnessed a plume of smoke showing from miles away. Water dropping helicopters, dozers, and brush engines were called to the scene to fight the growing vegetation and wind-driven fire.

When they arrived at the scene the fire was approximately two acres in size and burning in a south west direction. No structures were threatened as a result of the fire. The man was witnessed running from the area of the fire toward Kemper Campbell Ranch Road near the railroad tracks. The CHP helicopter, H80 responded and gained visual of the suspect who was seen starting another fire and attempting to start a third.

With the help of the helicopter, the suspect was taken into custody at around 12:00 p.m. One deputy and one firefighter sustained minor injuries and were transported to the hospital for treatment. A total of 11 engines, 2 crews, one dozer, 3 water tenders, and 3 helicopters responded to the scene to fight the fire as the winds blew 10-20 mph. By 1:00 p.m. the forward spread of the fire stopped at around 25 acres. BNSF area trains to the area were halted temporarily but have since returned to normal operations.