Investigators probe arson in Santiago Fire

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Orange County:

Investigators from the FBI and county agencies today were at Silverado Canyon and Santiago Canyon roads, where the Santiago fire was believed to have started, investigating arson charges.

“It’s definitely arson and it’s been deemed a crime scene,” said Jim Amormino, spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

Although there were several media reports of a raid on a home in the area by the FBI and other authorities, Amormino and FBI spokesperson Laura Eimiller said there had been no search warrant issued and they were unaware of any raid.

The FBI is joining the investigation because the fire crossed into federal lands in the Cleveland National Forest.

-- Jennifer Delson