GUILTY CA - Five firefighters die battling Esperanza fire, Cabazon, 26 Oct 2006

[JBean]

KFI is reporting frustration that the fire officials are not releasing any information. It is typical for KFI to be in the loop, which is why they were granted such a large signal for their station. Their job is to report to people in the wetern US what is going on in case of emergency. But they are only getting the same info they got last night. they are hoping for a briefing later today.

It is speculated that part of this hush hush is because it is a criminal investigation and they do not want to relelase any info about that.
But the frustration lies in not being able to get info to people about their surrounding areas. The conditions today are the same as yesterday and the fire conntinues to rage. It seems that is getting closer to some other populated areas.


Our local news just referred to this as the deadliest fire in the nation in the last 5 years.

 

[JBean]

Southern California Authorities Post $500,000 Reward for Arrest of Arsonist in Deadly Wildfire

BEAUMONT, Calif. -- As flames roared through the canyons of Southern California, authorities increased the reward to $500,000 Friday for the arrest of the arsonist responsible for the deaths of four firefighters in the nation's worst such tragedy in five years.

A fifth firefighter lay in grave condition with burns over 90 percent of his body.


http://orangecounty.cox.net/cci/newsnational/national?_mode=view&_state=maximized&view=article&id=D8L1CEI80&_action=validatearticle

 

[JBean]

Calmer Winds Help Crews Fight Southern California Blaze That Has Charred Some 40,000 Acres

BEAUMONT, Calif. -- Calmer winds helped crews fighting a massive wildfire Saturday that killed four firefighters and critically injured a fifth, while investigators searched for the arsonist who set the blaze roaring through the canyons of Southern California.

"It looks like things are beginning to turn in our favor. We had a good overnight. It wasn't nearly as windy as it's been," said California Department of Forestry spokesman Bill Peters.

Now in its third day, the fire that broke out in uninhabited brushland about 90 miles east of Los Angeles had blackened 39,900 acres, or more than 62 square miles, and was 25 percent contained, authorities said.

A reward for information leading to the arsonist soared to $500,000 Friday, as $100,000 posted by Riverside County quickly multiplied with matching offers from the state, neighboring San Bernardino County, Rancho Mirage resident Tim Blixseth and the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, which has a casino.

Forecasters predicted winds would ease and temperatures

http://orangecounty.cox.net/cci/newsnational/national?_mode=view&_state=maximized&view=article&id=D8L1LIN80&_action=validatearticle

 

[Beyond Belief]

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) -- As families planned funerals for five firefighters killed by a wind-swept wildfire a week ago, authorities marched a suspect into a courtroom to charge him with murder and arson - crimes that carry a possible death sentence.

Friends and family of the fallen firefighters said news of the arrest brought some relief.

"This arrest really does help with some of the closure, the healing that we in the Forest Service community, and in the families, need," said Jeanne Wade Evans, the San Bernardino National Forest supervisor.

The first in a series of funerals was planned for Friday.

http://hosted.ap.org/icons/spacer.gif

Raymond Lee Oyler was charged Thursday with five counts of murder, 11 counts of arson and 10 counts of use of an incendiary device. The charges include seven fires in June, one in July, one in September and two in October.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/SOCAL_WILDFIRE?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US

 

[raisincharlie]

Oyler also has a history in Joplin, Missouri - several run ins with the law - hopefully information from SW Missouri will be forwarded to the California officials. This is not a good guy to have in your neighborhood - IMO of course.

 

[HMSHood]

Needs a update. I happen to see a book on the fire, The Esperanza Fire: Arson, Murder, and the Agony of Engine 57. Raymond Oyler was sentenced to death on June 5, 2009.

Esperanza arsonist Raymond Lee Oyler sentenced to death
http://articles.latimes.com/2009/jun/06/local/me-oyler6