Residents Detain Arsonist

SAN BERNARDINO>> On Sunday, Sept. 25, at about 8:15 p.m., firefighters from San Bernardino County Fire and the U.S. Forest Service responded to a reported vegetation fire in lower Waterman Canyon in San Bernardino. Upon their arrival, the fire had been extinguished by a resident. The resident stated a male subject had started the fire and gave fire authorities a description. A search of the area turned up negative for the subject described. Later the next morning just after midnight another vegetation fire was reported in the same vicinity. At 12:15 a.m., crews from SBCoFD, USFS and CalFire were dispatched to a reported vegetation fire in the area of Lower Waterman Canyon, just in the city limits of San Bernardino. First units arrived on-scene and found one acre of heavy vegetation burning, with a direct threat to the San Bernardino National Forest. Crews fought the fire and kept the fire to two acres. No structures were immediately threatened. Due to the threat to the San Bernardino Forest, SBCoFD entered into unified command. SBCoFD responded with five fire engines, one battalion chief, one fire investigator, one dozer, one hand crew and two water tenders. United States Forest Service responded with multiple engines, chief officers, one night flying helicopter and air attack overhead. Cal Fire responded with multiple engines and overhead. Crews remained on-scene throughout the night and into the morning to fully contain the fire. Fire Investigators were also on-scene to find the cause and origin. While firefighters fought to contain the fire, investigators were notified that two residents had caught the suspected arsonists and had him detained near the creek. SBCoFire Investigator Brian Headley and US Forest Service Investigator Brandon Smith responded and took custody of the subject. Investigators determined the subject, later identified as Edwin Lizano, is suspected of deliberately setting both fires. Lizano was charged with two counts of arson and booked at the West Valley Detention Center by San Bernardino Police Officers in lieu of $250,000 bail. Residents quick actions may have saved their neighborhood from going up in flames and helped put an arsonist behind bars. SBCoFire said they would like to thank the residents for being vigilant, “seeing something, saying something”.