By Gina Yarbrough
Carlsbad, CA–A man was arrested in connection with a brush fire that forced the evacuation of homes near the Buena Vista Lagoon Saturday afternoon in Carlsbad, authorities said.
Responding officers were advised by a witness that a man was seen lighting an object and throwing it into the brush area causing it to catch on fire. While searching the area for the suspect, officers located a man matching the description of the suspect a short distance from the crime scene.
David Prosser, a 59-year-old from Carlsbad, was placed under arrest for resisting officers and was identified by the witness as the person seen starting the fire. Prosser was transported to a local hospital and then booked into the Vista Detention Facility for arson and resisting an officer.
Carlsbad Police and fire crews responded to a report at around 12:40 p.m. of a brush fire at the 2400 block of Carlsbad Boulevard.
Multiple agencies including CHP, Oceanside Police Department, San Diego Sheriff’s Department, Carlsbad, and Oceanside Fire Departments responded and assisted in containing the blaze.
Due to the massive blaze, Carlsbad police were forced to evacuate homes in Buena Vista Circle, Kremeyer Circle, and Laguna Drive near the lagoon “out of caution.”
A San Diego County Sheriff’s Department helicopter was called to the area for water drops on “potential hot spots” at the site of the fire along the lagoon, police said.
There were no reported injuries, and no structures were damaged as a result of the fire.
Investigators are seeking additional witnesses. Anyone with information about the arson can contact Detective Collier at (442) 339-5569, email at christopher.collier@carlsbadca.gov, or Sergeant Boyce at (442) 339-5561 or jonathan.boyce@carlsbadca.gov.
Anonymous tips can be submitted at www.sdcrimestoppers.org.
