Posted on 10/27/2006 7:03:00 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
BEAUMONT, Calif. (AP) -- As flames roared through the canyons of Southern California, authorities increased the reward to $500,000 Friday for the arrest of the arsonist responsible for the deaths of four firefighters in the nation's worst such tragedy in five years.
A fifth firefighter lay in grave condition with burns over 90 percent of his body.
Firefighters labored through thick smoke as curtains of wind-whipped orange flame pushed through uninhabited brushland about 90 miles east of Los Angeles. The blaze that broke out Thursday destroyed about 10 structures, including homes, forced 700 people to flee, and flushed coyotes and other wildlife into the open.
Investigators have not said how they know the nearly 40-square-mile blaze was arson, how it was set, or why. But they said those responsible could face murder charges.
Two young men were seen leaving the area where the fire broke out about 1 a.m. Thursday. Also, investigators said they were looking into whether the wildfire was related to other blazes in recent months, including a canyon fire last weekend.
(Excerpt) Read more at pe.com ...
They shouldn't be out too much longer with a reward like this. Someone's gonna squeal...
I hope it's their best friend who squeals - and then I hope the best friend is arrested for knowing about the crime beforehand.
Arson and IEDs are the weapons of choice for cowards.
A modified DC-10 prepares to drop fire retardant on a wildfire, Friday, Oct. 27, 2006, in Idyllwild, Calif. More than 1,700 firefighters worked to corral the fire in undeveloped brushlands west of the San Jacinto Mountains and a big DC-10 jet capable of dropping 12,000-gallon loads of retardant joined a fleet of firefighting helicopters and airtankers. Containment remained at just 5 percent. Mop-up work was under way back in mountain communities where flames swept through the previous day. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Firefighters with the California Department of Forestry exchange greetings as they head out to battle the Esperanza wildfire Friday, Oct. 27, 2006, in Gilman Hot Springs near Beaumont, Calif. (AP Photo/Ric Francis)
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A coyote runs along the highway trying to escape a wildfire near Beaumont, Calif. on Friday, Oct. 27, 2006.(AP Photo/Francis Specker)
Meanwhile, CDF and County firefighters are stationed all along Highway 18 and CHP and the Sheriff are still looking for a nutjob that was trying to start fires this afternoon...
A firefighter from the Ventura County Fire Department stands on a fire truck watching the advancing flames from a wildfire near Beaumont, Calif. on Friday, Oct. 27, 2006.(AP Photo/Francis Specker)
Find the murderous, cowardly, firestarting scumbags...BUMP.
~ Blue Jays ~
Thanks.. the last thing we need is copycats.. lynching is too good for them... perhaps a slow roasting over a hot bed of coals.. feed 'em to the wildlife, recycle their sorry arses to nature. it would seem only fitting.
I heard they have brought in more out of area firefighters so the US Forest Service can stand down out of respect for their fallen comrades...
Capt. Mark Loutzenhiser
Jess McLean
Jason McKay
Daniel Hoover-Najera
and
Pablo Cerda who is fighting for his life with burns covering 98% of his body.
A surprisingly high number of arsonists (including wildfires) turn out to be firefighters.
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