Arrest Made in San Diego County Wildfire Arson Investigation
Cal Fire has clarified that the individual suspected of igniting the Pala and Lilac Fires is not an employee of their agency.
Ruben Vasquez, 48, was arrested on February 28 and is currently held in San Diego County jail on a $500,000 bail, according to inmate records. He is facing two felony arson charges in connection with the Pala Fire and the Lilac Fire, as reported by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) on Saturday.
The fires were sparked approximately 25 minutes apart near Interstate 15 and State Route 76 in the Pala Mesa and Bonsall regions, consuming nearly 100 acres, according to Cal Fire.
These incidents occurred under gusty Santa Ana conditions, leading to the evacuation of hundreds of local residents, as stated by the state fire agency.
“Witness accounts and investigative work led to the identification of Vasquez as a suspect,” Cal Fire detailed in a press release on Saturday.
On Friday, Cal Fire law enforcement officials arrested Vasquez on suspicion of two counts of felony arson, and he was taken to the Vista Detention Facility in San Diego County.
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The case will be referred to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, as stated by Cal Fire.
Clarification Regarding Suspect’s Employment
On Sunday, Cal Fire issued a clarification on social media to address public misconceptions about the suspect. Some individuals believed that Vasquez was affiliated with Cal Fire.
Cal Fire emphasized that arson investigations are intricate and demand comprehensive evidence gathering, scene analysis, and witness interviews, which can be a time-consuming process.
Support during the investigation was provided by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, North County Fire Protection District, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office.
In this long exposure photo, a helicopter surveys the scene during the Lilac fire in unincorporated San Diego County, California on Jan. 21, 2025. Photo by Josh Edelson / AFP via Getty Images
Details about Vasquez were not available for discussion by officials involved in the case as of Monday.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Cal Fire, and the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office have refrained from disclosing Vasquez’s residential information.
“I can only share what is included in the news release,” said Cal Fire Spokesman Mike Cornette to The Epoch Times.
Border Patrol spokesperson Jaime Ruiz also opted not to provide additional information regarding the defendant.
“The news release is the only information we can provide,” Ruiz informed The Epoch Times in an email on Monday.
The case has been forwarded to the San Diego County District Attorney for potential charges; however, employees at the office are ethically barred from discussing the case until after arraignment, according to spokesperson Steve Walker.
“Our ethical obligations prevent us from discussing facts or evidence of a case we are reviewing for potential criminal charges,” Walker relayed to The Epoch Times in an email on Monday. “Once arraignment is complete, we will be able to provide information regarding the defendant’s residential city.”
Vasquez is set to appear for a court arraignment on Tuesday, as confirmed by Walker.
The fires in San Diego followed devastating wildfires in Los Angeles that resulted in significant destruction and claimed at least 29 lives.
Cal Fire has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the ongoing investigation into the Palisades and Eaton fires that began on January 7.
