Juveniles Caught Setting Fire in Lucerne Valley

[googlemap src=”” align=”alignright” ]LUCERNE VALLEY: (VVNG) – Very observant and quick thinking citizens assisted the San Bernardino County Fire Departments’ Fire investigator and Sheriff’s deputies in locating two juveniles who set a fire to an underground bunker and subsequently spread to the vegetation nearby.

On May 11, 2014 at 4:00 p.m., the San Bernardino County Communications Center received multiple calls of a possible fire in the 32400 block of highway 18 in the community of Lucerne Valley. Due to a Santa Ana wind event that the High Desert was under, three engines, one water tender, and a Chief Officer were dispatched.

First-in units found a small fire underground in a concrete bunker which had spread to the surrounding vegetation above. County Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire before the high winds in the area fanned the flames further into the vegetation.

During the investigation a local citizen came forward and gave their account of what happened and who they saw near the fire as it ignited. An investigator from the San Bernardino County Fire Department in conjunction with deputies from the Sheriffs’ Lucerne Valley area went to a residence nearby and concluded that two juveniles were to blame for the fire. Both juveniles were cited and released back to their parents.

During this Red Flag Warning that the High Desert is under the San Bernardino County Fire Department urges all the citizens to be vigilant to what is going on around them and report any sign of fire at the earliest chance possible. By activating the 911 response system your local firefighters can stop a small fire from becoming a wind-fanned blaze. Remember be READY, SET, and GO!