Investigators used GPS tracking device to nab firefighter-arsonist

Zane Wallace Peterson
Zane Wallace Peterson

Investigators used GPS tracking devices to gather evidence about a former firefighter who is accused of setting several wildfires in California, including the Clover Fire that killed one resident, burned 8,073 acres, and destroyed 60 homes.

Zane Wallace has been charged with over 200 arson-related counts, including 60 for arson to occupied structures. The fires occurred in September and October of 2013 in Shasta County.

According to information uncovered by the Redding Searchlight, investigators interviewed Mr. Wallace the day after the Clover Fire started, and later placed the tracking devices on two of his vehicles, which were later recorded at the location of some of the fires that started after the GPS devices were in place.

The U.S. Forest Service confirmed that Mr. Peterson was a former employee on the Mendocino National Forest. He worked as a firefighter (Forestry Technician) and fire engine operator from May 15, 2005 until October 22, 2012.

 

Thanks and a hat tip go out to Dick

Fire investigations and pyroterrorism

The Gazette in Colorado Springs has two interesting articles about investigating the cause and origin of wildfires and how thoughts of pyroterrorism have occurred to some folks in the state. No knowledgeable person as far as we know is saying the numerous suspicious fires that have occurred in the front range over the last two years are related to pyroterrorism. However, the 25 Teller County fires in June, 2012, combined with the Black Forest and Waldo Canyon fires that together destroyed about 850 homes and caused several fatalities, has fire investigators and detectives on edge, not ruling anything out.

Below is an excerpt from the second article, about pyroterrorism (which also quoted Dick Mangan, former President of the International Association of Wildland Fire):

…Investigators searching for the cause of a wildfire essentially work backwards, said Bill Gabbert, managing editor of Wildfire Today.

“You have to look for the direction of the spread to see which way the fire is moving,” he said. “So you have to work backwards.”

The quicker the response, the easier it is to find the point of origin because it decreases the area investigators must peruse.

Once the point of origin is located, investigators must determine what started the fire, which, depending on the igniter, “can be fairly easy or hard.”

“If they use a lighter and put it back in their pocket, it’s hard,” he said.

But arsonists also use devices that are left at the scene, sometimes something as tiny as a match.

“If you’re lucky, you can find the match,” Gabbert said. “Even if it’s charred, it helps.”

 

More information: articles at Wildfire Today tagged pyroterrorism and arson.

Former California firefighter charged with setting 7 fires

Zane Wallace Peterson
Zane Wallace Peterson

CAL FIRE law enforcement officers arrested former firefighter Zane Wallace Peterson, 29, of Happy Valley, California Tuesday morning on suspicion of intentionally setting seven fires in Shasta County, including the September 9th, 2013 Clover Fire. Peterson was booked into the Shasta County Jail and charged with over 200 arson-related counts, including 60 for arson to occupied structures.

  • Arson of a Structure or Vegetation (Penal Code 451(c)) 140 Counts
  • Arson that causes great bodily injury (Penal Code 451(a)) 1 Count
  • Arson to Occupied Structures (Penal Code 451(b)) 60 Counts.
  • Arson with Aggravating Factors (Penal Code 451.1(a)(4)) 2 Counts
  • Arson using Incendiary Device (Penal Code 453) 5 Counts

He was also charged with homicide for the death of one person on the Clover Fire. On September 10, 2013 the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office located a deceased person, identified as Brian Stanley Henry, 56, inside the Clover Fire perimeter on Coal Pit Road in the community of Igo, California while conducting a welfare check.

Mr. Peterson will be arraigned Wednesday afternoon in Shasta County.

The U.S. Forest Service confirmed that Mr. Peterson was a former employee on the Mendocino National Forest. He worked as a firefighter (Forestry Technician) and fire engine operator from May 15, 2005 until October 22, 2012.

The Clover Fire burned 8,073 acres and threatened over 500 residences. It destroyed 60 occupied residences and 130 outbuildings. Over 1500 firefighters from across the state responded at the height of the incident. The cost to contain and control the fire was over $7.3 million.

CAL FIRE arrests Yosemite Lakes Park area arson suspects

Kenneth Alan Jackson
Kenneth Alan Jackson. Madera County Sheriffs Office photo.

After a rash of suspicious fires, CAL FIRE law enforcement officers Tuesday night arrested a Yosemite Lakes Park couple on suspicion of dozens of arson fires. Kenneth Alan Jackson, 40 and Allison Marie Waterman, 46, both of Coarsegold, were booked into the Madera County Jail for arson. Jackson is being charged with 31 counts of arson, resisting arrest, as well as attempted battery on a peace officer. Waterman was booked on a single charge of arson.

“The Yosemite Lakes Park community has been threatened by countless wildfires over the past several months that we believe were a result of arson,” said Chief Nancy Koerperich, CAL FIRE Unit Chief for the Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit. “We appreciate the community’s support and assistance as we worked to track down these suspects.”

 

Thanks go out to Ken

Montana: man arrested for arson has fire department history

The man arrested Thursday for starting multiple fires in the Helena, Montana area was briefly a member of the East Valley Volunteer Fire Department, according to an article in the Helena Independent Record.

Frederick James May, 18, was charged with 12 counts of arson in connection with fires near York on Wednesday and in the Priest Pass area May 10. Five of those fires are being managed as the Sweats Complex, with the total number of acres burned listed at 450 with 225 personnel assigned.

Below are some excerpts from the Helana IR:

East Valley Volunteer Fire Chief Dave Sammons confirmed Thursday that Maw had served with that department for “about three or four months” last year before turning in his gear and preparing to join the military.

He had a relatively low level of participation in the department activities, Sammons said.

When Maw applied this winter to rejoin the department, he was refused, Sammons said, based on a review of his earlier performance.

[…]

Frederick James Maw, 18, was spotted on the scene of the fires outside York on Nelson Road, as well as in the Spokane Hills in Broadwater County on Tuesday, in full firefighting gear but apparently not affiliated with any of the fire crews.According to early reports, he claimed he was a contract firefighter.

[…]

He eventually admitted starting all three sets of recent fires, according to the report — nine in the York area, three on Priest Pass on May 10 and two in the Spokane Hills on Tuesday.Each arson count carries a possible penalty of 20 years in a prison and a fine of up to $50,000.

His arrest at about 5:50 p.m. Thursday capped a day in which fire crews scrambled to contain five fires suspiciously located on either side of Nelson Road. Deputies blocked the exit from the area in York to question travelers.

Rain on Thursday and higher humidity slowed the five fires in the Sweats Complex considerably. Their current status of as of 10 a.m. May 17:

  • Hunters Gulch at 150 acres and the fire is 75% contained
  • Sweats Gulch at about 300 acres and 25% contained
  • Pipepline Fire at 1 acre; contained, controlled and in patrol status
  • Kelly Gulch fires are a total of 5 acres and about 90% contained
  • Cottontail Fire at 2 acres is contained, controlled and in patrol status

Man arrested for starting fires near Helena, MT

A man has been arrested, suspected of starting multiple fires in the Helena, Montana area. Authorities are investigating Fredrick Maw of Helena and his possible role in starting five fires Wednesday, a 55-acre fire on Tuesday near the McMaster ranch, and another last week near Priest Pass.

The Helena Independent Record reported Mr. Maw “allegedly had been seen at the various fires as a private contractor seeking employment”.

The five fires that started Wednesday about 25 miles northeast of Helena are in the Helena National Forest and are being managed as the Sweats Complex. As of Thursday morning:

  1. Hunter Gulch Fire is more than 100 acres in size and is actively burning in grass and open timber, with 40% containment;
  2. Sweats Gulch Fire is about 300 acres with active fire behavior including isolated torching and crowning;
  3. [Unnamed] Fire approximately one acre, is contained and controlled;
  4. Kelly Gulch Fire is a group of five small fires that together are about 5 acres with a fireline around all of the fires;
  5. Cottontail Fire is about one acre and is contained.

 

Thanks go out to Al.