Firefighter in California suspected of starting fires in wine country

A California firefighter, Robert Hernandez, was arrested on suspicion of arson for setting five small fires in wine country between August and September. The fires burned less than one acre of land and were quickly extinguished. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection expressed disappointment in Hernandez’s actions. He is facing five counts of arson to forest land and is being held on $2 million bail. The region where the fires were set has experienced devastating wildfires in recent years. In 2017, the Tubbs Fire killed 22 people and destroyed thousands of homes. In 2020, more than 4 million acres burned across the state, setting a record for the largest number of acres burned in modern times. This year, nearly one million acres have burned, including fast-moving blazes in Southern California. The arrest of a firefighter for arson is particularly troubling given the trust placed in first responders to protect communities from fires. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by California in combating wildfires and the need for increased vigilance in preventing arson.

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