Suspected arsonist arrested in wildfires

BEAUMONT, Calif. – Authorities arrested a man Tuesday who is suspected of intentionally starting two wildfires this summer and is considered a person of interest in a blaze started last week that killed five firefighters.

Raymond Lee Oyler, 37, of Beaumont was arrested on two counts of arson related to wildfires in June, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement. Oyler was not named as a suspect in the wildfire that started last week and roared across more than 60 square miles.

Four U.S. Forest Service firefighters died shortly after the blaze began Thursday when flames overran them as they tried to protect homes in the area. A fifth firefighter died Tuesday evening.

Investigators interviewed Oyler on Friday and then searched his home on Monday, the Sheriff’s Department said. No other details were released.

Firefighter Pablo Cerda, 23, of Fountain Valley died at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton after his family decided to take him off life support following extensive surgery last week to remove damaged skin.

The fifth death made it the greatest loss of firefighters in a single incident while battling a wildfire since 14 were killed in July 1994 near Glenwood Springs, Colo., according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

The blaze started early Thursday and scorched more than 60 square miles, of forest and brush before being fully contained Monday. It destroyed 34 homes and 20 outbuildings.