Homeless Man Arrested On Suspicion Of Starting Gypsum Fire In Anaheim, Others

ANAHEIM (CBSLA.com) – A homeless man was arrested on suspicion of starting several fires, including one that charred four acres of brush on Monday along a freeway in Anaheim.

The blaze broke out around  6 p.m. south of the Riverside (91) Freeway, west of Gypsum Canyon Road, according to Daron Wyatt of Anaheim Fire and Rescue.

More than 70 firefighters, along with a helicopter and two air tankers, knocked out the flames in about an hour, Wyatt said.

No one was hurt, and no buildings were burned.

While crews were working to contain the fire, reports came in about a man seen lighting brush fires along the south side of the freeway, west of the burning fire.

The California Highway Patrol quickly arrested Victor Luis Flores, 22, who was booked on three counts of arson and will be held on the statutorily set bail of $70,000 as well as a $20,000 narcotics warrant, Wyatt said.

Based on the circumstances, investigators will request the bail be increased to $250,000, Wyatt said.

"While the cause of the Gypsum Fire has not yet been determined, it is suspected the fire was intentionally set," he said.