GLENDALE : Fire Captain’s Novel to Be Used in His Arson Trial

A federal judge has ruled that an unpublished novel written by suspended Glendale Fire Capt. John Orr can be introduced as evidence in Orr’s trial on charges that he set five fires in the San Joaquin Valley in 1987.

Judge Oliver W. Wanger ruled in Fresno that the fires Orr described in his book “Points of Origin” are the same fires that he is charged with setting, prosecutors said.

In letters to publishers, Orr--who was Glendale’s chief arson investigator until his arrest in December--wrote that the work was fact-based and concerned an arsonist still at large. Orr’s trial is scheduled to begin in Fresno on July 14.

Orr also has been charged with setting eight fires in Los Angeles and San Louis Obispo counties. In that case, a federal judge ruled that the book could not be used as evidence. Prosecutors have appealed.