CAL FIRE engineer arrested on suspicion of setting wildfires

CAL Fire officials said the apparatus engineer is suspected of setting five fires while off duty

September 20, 2024 01:42 PM

By Rick Hurd
Bay Area News Group

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A CAL FIRE employee suspected of setting five different wildfires has been arrested, authorities said Friday.

Officers with the agency arrested 38-year-old Robert Hernandez, of Healdsburg, about 8 a.m. Friday, according to a statement from CAL FIRE. He is suspected of arson to forest land in the areas surrounding Geyserville , Healdsburg, and Windsor , authorities said.

According to CAL FIRE, Hernandez was an apparatus engineer for the agency.

CAL FIRE Director and Fire Chief Joe Tyler in a statement said he was “appalled” to learn of the arrest.

The Alexander Fire (which started Aug. 15 ); the Windsor River Road Fire ( Sept. 8 ), the Geysers Fire ( Sept. 12 ) and the Geyser and Kinley Fires ( Sept. 14 ) burned less than an acre combined. Authorities said investigators suspect Hernandez set all the fires during his off-duty time.

Authorities said they booked Hernandez into the Sonoma County Jail.

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