SFFD: $75,000 Reward for Info Regarding Arson Fire

Saturday, February 14, 2009

SFFD: $75,000 Reward for Info Regarding Arson Fire

Update: Reward continues to grow -> $75,000 Reward for Felton St. Fire Arsonist Information
From San Francisco Fire Department

San Francisco Firefighters Union Local 798 announced today the establishment of a Reward Fund for information leading to the apprehension and prosecution of the Arsonist(s) responsible for the February 5, 2009 fire at 627 Felton Street that injured six Firefighters.

Members of the San Francisco community have reached out to the Fire Department with the desire to contribute to the Reward Fund, raising it to a total of $75,000.

The San Francisco Fire Department and Local 798 would like to thank the following generous contributors for their efforts in bringing this arsonist to justice: Mitchell Engineering, Michael Byrne, Platinum Advisors, Webcor Construction Company, Boston Properties, California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco Fire Commissioners, PG&E, American Airporter Shuttle

Arson Task Force Anonymous Tip Hotline: 415.575.4444

San Francisco firefighters and police are announcing a $25,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in an arson fire that injured six firefighters.

Officials say the blaze was reported around 12:30 a.m. last Friday at a vacant two-story home in the city’s Portola neighborhood. About 10 to 12 minutes after the first crew entered the home, the roof collapsed, sending hot gas and smoke down a hallway towards them.

Lieutenant James App, an eight-year veteran of the department, suffered second and third degree burns, while 11-year veteran Christopher Posey was left hospitalized for many days in critical condition.

At a press conference Friday morning, Posey’s brother Martin Mora called the intentional fire a selfish act, "The thousands of brave women and men that risk their lives on a daily basis and to know that someone would be so selfish to set something on fire. A house you can replace. Money you can replace. A human life you can't.”

Two others suffered smoke inhalation while one was treated for a twisted knee.

Mora, who is a firefighter in San Jose, is urging those who have information regarding the blaze to contact authorities, “To endure the pain of my family, to see my brother in that condition, we ask the public to help us put this animal behind where he belongs so that he doesn't commit this crime to anybody else. I don't want to see another firefighter fighting for his or her life."

Anyone with information is asked to call the arson task force’s anonymous tip line at 415-575-4444. This Tip Line will be monitored 24 hours a day.

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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.

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Saturday, February 14, 2009