Fireman's Mom Asks Culprit To Come Forward

Calmer Winds Help Crews Gain Ground; Reward Up To $500,000

(CBS/AP)  The mother of one of the four firefighters who died battling a wildfire that authorities blamed on arsonists urged those who set it to turn themselves in Saturday.

“I firmly believe you didn't believe that things were going to turn out the way they did, but they did,” said Bonnie McKay, whose son Jason, 27, died Thursday. “Don't let the remorse eat you alive. Come forward. ... I for one will try not to judge you. There is only one who can judge you.”

Meanwhile, firefighters took advantage of calm weather and dissipating Santa Ana winds, making headway against the 62-square-mile conflagration by dumping water and retardant on flames using a fleet of helicopters and airplanes, including a DC-10 jumbo jet.

“Today is a turning point that will tell if our containment survives,” said Janet Upton, a California Department of Forestry spokeswoman at the command post in Beaumont, 90 miles east of Los Angeles.

The 39,900-acre blaze blaze was 40 percent contained, two days after blowtorch gusts overran a U.S. Forest Service crew, killing four of its members and leaving a fifth clinging to life with burns over most of his body.

Firefighter Pablo Cerda, 23, was listed in critical condition Saturday at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center after surgery Friday to remove damaged skin.

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.

Investigators were looking into whether the wildfire was related to other blazes in recent months, including a canyon fire last weekend, though a sheriff's spokesman said there was no immediate indication of a serial arsonist.

Residents said they saw two young men leaving the area where the fire broke out early Thursday west of the San Jacinto Mountains.

Fire officials said there had been six other minor injuries to firefighters and, after completion of damage assessments, raised the number of destroyed homes to 27, up from earlier estimates of 10.

Evacuation orders remained in effect for about 500 homes in Twin Pines and Poppet Flat, communities where homes burned. Residents were allowed back in for several hours to retrieve personal items and feed or remove animals.

Forecasters predicted winds would ease and temperatures would drop slightly throughout the weekend, which could help as crews work to build firelines around the blaze.

The north side of the fire, paralleling Interstate 10, was considered well-contained. On the west flank, Highway 79 was reopened after firefighters stopped the fire's advance in that direction.

Major firefighting activity focused on the south side of the fire to prevent any southerly spread toward small communities including Soboba Hot Springs and San Jacinto.

Water-dropping helicopters operated from a landing zone in a grapefruit orchard on the Soboba Indian Reservation as retardant bombers flew overhead, and a half-dozen bulldozers lined up at the mouth of Castile Canyon, ready to move in to cut fire breaks.

Hotshot crews of reinforcements moved in as fire Battalion Chief Art Nevarez and his crew from neighboring Orange County came out of the canyon after a night of firefighting in what one called “goat country.”

“We were real fortunate last night because the wind lay down for us,” said Nevarez, who helped fight another major wildfire last month.

“When the Santa Anas come through, then it's really the big finale,” he said of the fire season.

On Saturday, fire vehicles were gathered in the area and investigators walked with heads down as they looked for evidence around the ignition point near Esperanza Avenue.

One law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity described the investigation as being in its “infancy.”

Authorities declared the fire arson within hours of its start but have withheld details of any evidence they have. Fire officials have noted an unusual number of fires in the area in recent months, including one in a nearby canyon a week ago.

[cheralina]

Message to Ohiosurf..I went to your website and I'm loving the recipes!! I'm making the
Harvest Honey Spice Cake tomorrow!!
Thanks for sharing :)

[cheralina]

Happy to see someone is saying something worth reading for a change. My thoughts are with those who have lost so much, and the brave firefighters that risking there lives.

[ohiosurf]

Everyone seems to be forgetting that several human beings died in this fire.
This is a shame. Were this to be God's will, why would He kill the innocent, and leave the not-so-innocent to continue life?
Some bonehead started a fire, and it killed people. This bonehead needs to burn, not more fire fighters.
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www.gosyro.com

[cheralina]

I's time for this crazy nut ball Jesus Holy Roller to get a clue (or possibly medication) the young man from San Jacinto Danny was my neighbor, his parents are devastated! Get off your soap box and pray for the families that have lost their fathers, brothers and sons!

It is hard to believe that anyone in their right mind would ever start a fire and of course anybody in thier right mind wouldn't but those who chose this deadly venture centainly lost sight of all reason and sense.

[bossmare2]

I am so saddened about the fire that has taken the lives of the 4 firefighters and critically hurt another. The people who deliberately set this fire, when caught, should rightly be charged with murder. I feel they should get the death sentence. It is obvious they had no regard for any lives that may be lost. I wish I could be on the jury when these monsters come to trial. I send my heartfelt prayers for the families of the firefighters. God bless them all.

[mickey331]

we were in taco bell and people were talking about they knew who started the fire and a cop was in there standing next to them and he never did anything about finding out who started the fires. aren't they supposed to follow up on tips like that? they said the people started the fires because they are mad at the cops for not ticketing the cars with no front license plate. they point out cars with no plates to the cops and the cops just give them dirty looks and refuse to put tickets on the cars so they went out and started fires to get even.