State offers $100,000 to catch arsonist

FIRE crews yesterday struggled to protect homes from a wind-whipped wildfire that trapped and killed four firefighters in a wall of flames as it raced across almost 38 square miles in southern California.

Authorities have offered a $100,000 (€78,500) reward for information leading to the arrest of the arsonist.

The blaze was last night burning in the San Jacinto Mountains just west of Palm Springs. It destroyed 10 structures, including at least five homes. At one point, several hundred mountain residents took refuge with campers in a nearby RV park where crews could protect them.

More than 1,100 firefighters were working to protect homes and build fire lines. Crews were sent to an area near the fire’s western border late on Thursday.

“We had a lot of fire activity overnight,” said Bill Peters, spokesman for the California Department of Forestry. “Normally the fire dies down and the winds let up but that didn’t happen last night. It burned like it was daytime.”

Fire officials were mourning the deaths of four US Forest Service firefighters killed while attempting to protect a home close to where the fire began in Cabazon. The flames came so quickly the five-person crew had no time to retreat to its engine or use portable fire shelters.

Authorities offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arsonist’s arrest.

“A deliberately set arson fire that leads to the death of anyone constitutes murder,” Riverside County fire Chief John Hawkins said.

Authorities haven’t revealed why they think the fire was arson.

Three of the firefighters died at the scene and two were taken to the hospital in critical condition. One died several hours later and the other had burns over 95% of his body, said Pat Boss, a US Forest Service spokesman.

The surviving firefighter also had severe respiratory damage, according to Dr Dev Gnanadev, a trauma surgeon at Arrowhead Regional Medical Centre.

“Overall, the chances of survival are low when you have that bad of an injury,” Dr Gnanadev said.

It was the deadliest wildfire in the US since July 10, 2001, when four firefighters were killed in Washington’s Okanogan National Forest after they were trapped by flames in a dusty dead-end.

At least one civilian suffered minor injuries and 200 people in the small, mountain communities of Poppet Flat and Twin Pines were forced to flee their homes yesterday. In all, nearly 700 people were evacuated, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said.

People in the Silent Valley Club RV Resort near Poppet Flat were unable to leave after firefighters closed the only road out of the community. TV footage showed ehicles racing through smoke and flames just before the road was closed.

Firefighters said it was safer to keep the people in the park because the blaze was contained by a firebreak created years earlier around the area, said sheriff’s Corporal Todd Garvin. “This is a safe haven here. That was cleared about six years ago and it still works. It’s amazing,” Cpl Garvin said.

Some evacuated residents stayed temporarily in the RV park, but later were able to leave. People staying in RVs were told to remain in the park to avoid congesting the road out.

Mr Peters said: “It’s too dangerous. It’s easier for us to keep them there when we’re on the roads with our equipment.”