By Gina Yarbrough
SANTEE–The Sheriff’s Department’s Bomb-Arson Unit is investigating a suspicious brush fire that broke out on February 26 in Santee.
The blaze was reported just before 11:30 a.m. near the 9100 block of Carlton Hills Boulevard in the river bed just south of Mast Park. Deputies from the Santee Sheriff’s Station arrived on the scene to support the Santee Fire Department. Deputies evacuated Mast Park as a precaution and notified nearby residents about the fire.
A Sheriff’s ASTREA helicopter assisted with water drops while firefighters tackled the flames on the ground. Firefighters were able to bring the fire under control. No structures were damaged and no injuries were reported.
A person was seen leaving the area where the fire started carrying a gas can. ASTREA made loudspeaker announcements about the suspect, while deputies searched on the ground. A person of interest was spotted at a nearby business, but deputies determined he was not involved with the fire.
Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call the Sheriff’s Department at (858) 565-5200. You can also call the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477.
