Arson Suspects Arrested In Connection With Beaumont's Jack Fire

BEAUMONT, CA — Two people have been arrested on suspicion of setting the 260-acre Jack Fire burning near Beaumont, a Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department spokeswoman said Tuesday.

"The fire was determined to be recklessly caused and unlawful," Cal Fire Spokeswoman Karina Espinoza said in an email to Patch. "Two individuals were linked to the ignition of the fire and arrested by CAL FIRE Peace Officers."

According to jail records, at least one suspect was arrested at 5th and Wellwood Avenue in Beaumont on Sunday and was booked into Smith Correctional Facility by Cal Fire law enforcement officers. Pending charges include recklessly causing a fire in the forestland and arson during a state of emergency, according to that agency.

Arson suspect Dang Khoa Nguyen, 24, was released on a $50,000 bond. Jail records show they will appear in court to answer charges on Nov. 26. Cal Fire has not yet named the other suspect.

The Jack Fire was reported at 4:30 p.m. Sunday in the area of Jack Rabbit Trail and the Moreno Valley (60) Freeway, near an area known as the Badlands.

Cal Fire officials said the flames were 90 percent contained by 6 p.m. Monday. At the height of the blaze, multiple Cal Fire air tankers and water-dropping helicopters were making runs to establish containment lines. No air tankers have been assigned to the fire since Sunday. However, more than 200 county personnel, along with municipal and tribal agencies providing mutual aid, have provided assistance on the fire lines.

The Badlands area features undulating terrain, no frontage roads along the Moreno Valley Freeway, and few houses. Officials said there were no evacuations during the blaze, and no one was injured.

The investigation into the Jack Fire's cause began almost immediately when Cal Fire investigated a tip of a car seen leaving the scene of the fire's origin, according to Espinoza.

"A vehicle of interest was seen leaving the immediate area of the fire and was later stopped by Law Enforcement after multi-agency coordination," she said. "Cal Fire Peace Officers conducted an origin and cause investigation, held interviews, and collected evidence."

— City News Service contributed to this report.