Lower Waterman Canyon

Late Night Vegetation Fires

 

FIRE #1 Sunday September 25th after 8:00 P.M., San Bernardino County Fire Fighters and the U.S. Forest Service responded to a reported vegetation fire in lower Waterman Canyon within the city limits of 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 (Fire #2 below). While SBC Fire Fighters fought to contain the second fire, investigators were notified that two residents had caught the suspected arsonist and had him detained near the creek.  

San Bernardino County Fire Investigator Brian Headley and U.S. 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 PC451(a); arson, and booked at the West Valley Detention Center by San Bernardino Police Officers in lieu of $250,000 bail. 

“The residents quick actions may have saved their neighborhood from going up in flames and helped put an arsonist behind bars.” San Bernardino County Fire spokeman expressed “ Thanks, residents for being vigilant and for “Seeing something, saying something!” 

Anyone with information on an arson fire can contact We-Tip at 800-47-ARSON (800-472-7766) or Fire Dispatch at 909-356-3805.











Residents Detain Arsonist 

















 

FIRE #2 San Bernardino County Fire Fighters and the U.S. Forest Service and CalFire crews were dispatched to a reported vegetation fire in the area at 12:15 A.M. of Lower Waterman Canyon, just in the city limits of San Bernardino. First fire attack units arrived on-scene and found one acre of heavy vegetation burning, with a direct threat to the San Bernardino National Forest. Fire Crews engaged in an aggressive attack, knocking the fire down and keeping the fire to the boundaries of two acres. No structures were immediately threatened. Due to the threat to the San Bernardino Forest, San Bernardino County Fire Department entered into a unified command. 

San Bernardino County Fire Department responded with (5) Engines, (1) Battalion Chief, (1) Fire Inv, (1) Dozer, (1) Hand Crew and (2) Water Tenders. United States Forest Service responded with multiple engines, Chief Officers, (1) Night flying helicopter and air attack overhead. Cal Fire responded with multiple engines & overhead.

Fire-fighting Crews remained on-scene throughout the night and into the morning to fully contain the fire. Fire Investigators also stayed on-scene to find the cause and origin. 

Arson suspect, Edwin Lizano, held on $250,000 bail, at West Valley Detention Center will be arraigned Wednesday September 28, 2016 for being  suspected of deliberately setting both fires.