Crafton Fire

The Crafton Fire started at approximately 4:30 and burned behind Crafton Hills college. The fire started near Chapman Heights Rd. and 10th Street in Yucaipa. When the fire crossed the Yucaipa Truck Trail, that was the trigger point for structure protection to be put in place in Mentone. The fire is on SRA and is being handled by CALFIRE. Currently the fire is 347 acres, 60% contained. At the time of post, no structures were lost. There are 400+ personnel on scene. A 16 year old boy was arrested on suspicion of arson.

Photos by EPN564

UPDATE: September 24, 2009 2:04 pm

A 16-year-old boy is suspected of starting more than a dozen wildfires in the inland region east of Los Angeles. The youth was arrested Wednesday afternoon near a fire that erupted around Yucaipa and was booked for investigation of arson. His name has been withheld because he is a juvenile. San Bernardino County sheriff's spokeswoman Arden Wiltshire said Thursday that investigators believe the youth may be involved in 12 to 14 wildfires dating back to 2006. Wiltshire says the teen is cooperating with the investigation. Doug McKain, a state forestry and fire unit chief, says no serious injuries or deaths occurred in those fires. Fire spokesman Bill Peters says the fire that erupted Wednesday is 60 percent contained and no flames and smoke are showing from the 347-acre burn area.

UPDATE:  September 24, 2009  11:30 am 

SBSO has issued the following press release:

On Wednesday, September 23, 2009, at approximately 4:39 p.m., deputies from the Yucaipa Police Station responded to the area of 10th Street and Chapman Heights Road following a report of an arson. Upon arrival, deputies were advised by witnesses that a white male juvenile had been seen leaving the location of the fire riding a bicycle. Deputies conducted an area search and immediately located the subject east of where the fire was reported. Investigators from the Sheriff's Department Bomb and Arson Detail along with investigators from Cal Fire responded to the location. The juvenile suspect was taken to the Yucaipa Police Station and was subsequently taken into to custody and transported late this evening following the initial investigation. The suspect was taken to the San Bernardino Juvenile Hall facility where he was booked for arson.