Robert Hernandez, a 38-year-old Cal Fire apparatus engineer, was arrested for allegedly setting five small fires in Sonoma County, raising concerns about trust in firefighting.
Joe Tyler, Cal Fire’s director, expressed outrage over Hernandez's actions, stating, 'I am appalled to learn one of our employees would violate the public's trust and attempt to tarnish the tireless work of the 12,000 women and men of Cal Fire.'
Since 2016, Cal Fire law enforcement has arrested 923 arson suspects, showcasing ongoing challenges with firefighter arson cases despite being a small percentage of the workforce.
A report by the National Volunteer Fire Council highlighted that over 100 firefighters in the U.S. are arrested annually on arson charges, driven by diverse, often troubling motives.
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