3 Face Recklessness Charges in 400-Acre Blaze

Sheriff’s arson investigators will recommend that charges of criminal recklessness be brought against three men accused of using illegal fireworks that set off a 400-acre blaze in Angeles National Forest north of Saugus on Monday.

James Bruggeman, 20; Michael McCune, 19, and Daniel Pearson, 19, all of Saugus, were being held Tuesday at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s station in lieu of $500,000 bail each. They were arrested near where the fire broke out Monday and charged with arson and possession of explosive devices.

Sheriff’s arson investigator Edward Nordskog said the men admitted accidentally igniting the fire while setting off illegal fireworks they had purchased in Mexico.

“We believe this is more of a reckless and unlawful fire than it is arson,” Nordskog said. “They tried to put it out and it got too big for them.”

Nordskog described the fireworks as explosive devices “larger than a cherry bomb.”

The quick-moving grass fire began about 3:50 p.m. Monday two miles north of San Francisquito Canyon Road and Riverview Road. Winds pushed the fire northeast into Angeles National Forest.

Four air tankers, four helicopters and more than 350 Los Angeles County and U.S. Forest Service firefighters fought the fire, which burned for eight hours Monday before being extinguished shortly before midnight. No structures were damaged and no injuries were reported.

In addition to being charged with recklessly starting the fire, the men will be charged with possession of an explosive device, Nordskog said.

The three were also cited by the Forest Service and could be ordered to repay firefighting costs if convicted, said Inspector Mark Tolbert of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

“Just one of those helitankers that was there is like $7,000 an hour,” Tolbert said. “You could be talking about some major money.”

Forest Service Officer Roger Richcreek said that what began as a relatively quiet fire season has begun to pick up in the past few weeks.

“We’re about a month behind in our season and most of the fires we’ve had have been grass and light fuels,” Richcreek said. “By the middle to end of August we expect things to really start going on.”

A five-acre fire that burned in a grove of juniper trees in Palmdale on Tuesday afternoon threatened homes before it was quickly extinguished by firefighters, county fire officials said.

Five engine companies, a helicopter and at least 60 firefighters fought the fire, which broke out around 3:15 p.m. in the 1200 block of Avenue N, for 30 minutes before containing it. Inspector Ed Loney said the cause was under investigation.