A woman has been arrested on suspicion of intentionally starting a brush fire in the Angeles National Forest amidst a critical fire weather warning. The incident occurred early Saturday morning during a red flag alert, which had forecasters anticipating dangerous fire conditions.
Sheila Nartatez, 47, of Los Angeles, was taken into custody on charges of recklessly setting fire to forestry land, as detailed in a statement released by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. U.S. Forest Service firefighters observed Nartatez walking in the vicinity of a small brush fire on Little Tujunga Canyon Road, near mile marker 16. Firefighters successfully extinguished the blaze, which had consumed approximately half an acre, and sheriff's deputies from the Crescenta Valley Station subsequently detained Nartatez.
Investigators have alleged that Nartatez deliberately started the fire. She was initially booked at the Crescenta Valley Station Jail before being transferred to the Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood, where she is being held on $35,000 bail.
The red flag warning was active across many areas until 6 p.m. Saturday. The National Weather Service had cautioned that the combination of hot, dry Santa Ana winds and elevated temperatures presented a significant risk for rapid fire spread.
Sheriff's units responding to the scene had been strategically deployed for fire watch duties in anticipation of the red flag conditions, according to the Sheriff's Department. Captain Ryan A. Vienna, commander of the Crescenta Valley Station, commended the Fire Department for their swift action in extinguishing "a potentially disastrous fire that could have affected all LA County residents."
“We at Crescenta Valley Station remain committed to increasing our presence through field deployments during these events to save lives and property in the communities we serve,” Vienna stated.
