Red Flag Arson Suspect Arrested

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Red Flag Arson Suspect Arrested

Arson suspect arrested for two vegetation fires

In the midst of Red Flag fire weather, with fire departments and residents in Southern California on edge, Peter Lawrence Williamson, 40-year-old resident of Murrieta was arrested yesterday for Arson.

Two vegetation fires occurred in the area of Winchester Rd and Scott Rd at 1:00 am on October 22, 2008. A witness reported suspicious activity in the area and contacted the Riverside County Sherriff's Department (RSO). An on duty RSO deputy located and detained Williamson until CAL FIRE investigators arrived. Williamson was arrested and taken to the Southwest Detention Center and booked on two counts of arson to the wildland.

The cooperation of a vigilant citizen, local law enforcement and fire officials made this arrest possible. Arson is a very dangerous crime that can destroy and damage lives and property. An individual who intentionally starts a fire is trying to do harm. The arrest of Williamson is critical to the safety of the public. Anyone with additional information regarding these fires or suspicious activity in the area please contact CAL FIRE Battalion Chief Tim Williams at 951-940-6960.

Already over 1.3 million acres have burned this year in California. Red Flag conditions can drastically increase the chance of a wildfire. Residents should be vigilant in their preparedness and aware of suspicious persons in or around their communities. If you witness someone suspicious, make note of his or her physical description, and his or her vehicle description, including the license plate number. Report the information to your fire or law enforcement agency.

Further Information: Julie Hutchinson, RRU Fire Captain 951 940 6985

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How fires get their names

Every year in California thousands of wildfires start throughout the state. In most cases, the dispatch center sending the initial resources to a wildland fire will designate a name for the fire, but the first on scene engine or fire official can also name the incident. Fires are usually named for the area in which they start – a geographical location, local landmark, street, lake, mountain, peak, etc. Quickly naming the fire provides responding fire resources with an additional locater, and allows fire officials to track and prioritize incidents by name. For example during the Southern California Fire Siege of 2003, the largest wildland fire in California history, the Cedar Fire in San Diego County, was named after the Cedar Creek Falls area where it started. The destructive Old Fire, which burned during the same time period in San Bernardino County, was named after the road along which it started - Old Waterman Canyon Road.

CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States. CDF - CAL FIRE Firefighters answer the call more than 300,000 times a year. CAL FIRE Firefighters make up the fire department for 30 of our 58 counties in California and more than 100 local communities. We serve as the incident command during many of California’s most serious disasters. CAL FIRE Firefighters respond to many various types and forms of calls ranging from structural fires, to auto accidents, to earthquakes, to floods, to the spilling of hazardous materials, to every conceivable disaster; CAL FIRE answer's the calls. CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States . CAL FIRE firefighters protect 33 million acres of State Responsibility Area (SRA). We have over 4,000 members within CAL FIRE and CAL FIRE is associated with the California Professional Firefighters (CPF) and the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF).

CFN - CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS - CAL FIRE NEWS

Saturday, October 25, 2008