1 week ago
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MADERA COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - The Madera County Sheriff's Office announced the apprehension of 34-year-old Hilario Vargas Martinez, aft they accidental helium deliberately sparked a wildfire that burned 40 acres, caused implicit $300k successful damage, and knocked retired powerfulness to implicit 3,000 PG&E customers connected Monday.
"We're fortunate this didn't origin decease and destruction," said Madera County Sheriff Tyson Pogue.
Pogue says the occurrence was called successful astir 3:30 p.m. successful the country of Raymond Rd and Ave 28 ΒΌ, on the Fresno River, conscionable northbound of Madera.
"As deputies were arriving retired there, they made interaction with a idiosyncratic who witnesses identified arsenic starting fires connected some sides of that river. That antheral took disconnected running," Pogue said. "A ft pursuit ensued for astir a mile, and eventually, the deputies took this idiosyncratic into custody."
Thankfully, helium says Cal Fire crews were capable to get the flames nether power earlier immoderate homes oregon businesses were destroyed.
Cal Fire says a full of 10 structures were threatened.
However, with the adjacent proximity to the city, and precise adust writer and vegetation some successful Madera County and astir the region, arsenic is the lawsuit successful June astir summers, helium says it could person been overmuch worse, referencing 2 of the astir notable wildfires successful California history.
"We've each seen the devastation from the assorted wildfires successful Paradise and L.A., and we each cognize that this is simply a life-or-death situation."
Now, Martinez faces six full felonies, including 3 for arson and 3 for recklessly starting a fire.
Fires he's accused of mounting that Pogue said not lone created information for those nearby, but besides elsewhere successful the region.
"It takes a batch of personnel, not conscionable firefighters, but besides deputies retired determination evacuating the areas and effort and support radical retired of the areas arsenic good arsenic looking for the suspect. So we had an each hands connected platform concern wherever if we had different occurrence interruption out, aforesaid time, it's highly unsafe for everybody involved," helium said.
Martinez's bail has been acceptable astatine $250,000.
