Transient arrested in fire probe

[stevedeshazer]

Source: USA Today

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A homeless man was arrested and charged with arson for starting a tiny blaze near the spot where a gigantic wildfire erupted in August and went on to kill two firefighters, homicide detectives said Monday.

Babatunsin Olukunle, 25, is the strongest lead to date in the arson investigation stemming from a fire that destroyed 89 homes, burned 250 square miles of national forest and killed two firefighters when their truck plunged off a road. It was one of the largest fires in Southern California history.

The Nigerian man was arrested Thursday and charged Monday with one felony count of recklessly causing a fire. Authorities said he started a fire that charred an area about the size of a table top on Aug. 20 and was quickly extinguished by two U.S. Forest Service workers who happened to be passing and spotted smoke.

The small fire burned off the side of the Angeles Crest Highway, a mountain road northeast of Los Angeles. Six days later and six miles down the same road, the devastating Station Fire broke out.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-10-19-wildfires-california-arrest_N.htm

[izquierdista]

1. And how much does homelessness cost??

In another thread, there was a town that had decided to 'waste' some money by building housing for the homeless to give them another start.

[bemildred]

2. I sure hope he gets a good lawyer, because they sure need a perp. nt

[slackmaster]

3. The good news is he won't be homeless any more

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