Suspected Serial Yucaipa Arsonist, A Former Fire Explorer, Set 900 Acres Ablaze: DA

YUCAIPA, CA — A Yuciapa man is accused of setting eight fires across San Bernardino county – one of them which injured a firefighter, the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office said this week. Jarrod Anthony Samra , 23, was charged on Monday with one count of Arson Causing Great Bodily Injury and eight counts of Arson of a Structure of Forest.

According to the DA's Office, the Yucaipa man's arson spree started on July 7 and went through Aug. 3 when he was caught at the scene of his last fire along Highway 38 near Bryant Street. Sheriff's deputies who had responded to the fire spotted a vehicle near the origination point and contacted the driver – Samra – and arrested him after further investigation. Once he was in custody, he was allegedly linked to several more local fires.

"Using investigative tools and gathering evidence led the Task Force to identifying Jarrod Samra as the suspect responsible for at least 8 fires," Sheriff John McMahon said. "This is a perfect example of public safety agencies working together to keep our communities safe."

According to the Los Angeles Times, Samra is a former fire explorer. He's now facing up to 19 years in prison if convicted as charged.

"This arsonist will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law," District Attorney Michael Ramos said. "The history of fires in our county and the destruction they have caused to human life and property is absolutely tragic. Thankfully, through the investigative work of our law enforcement and public safety partners, we were able to stop this individual and prevent any future destruction or potential loss of life."

According to the complaint and fire reports, Samra is suspected of starting the following fires:

• July 7: The Bryant Fire, 74 acres burned
• July 12: The Hidden Fire, 46 acres burned
• July 14: The Bridge Fire, 460 acres burned
• July 16: The Piedmont Fire, less than an acre
• July 22: The Seine Fire, 20 acres burned
• July 28: The Trout Fire, 10 by 10 foot spot fire
• July 28: Helen Fire, less than an acre
• Aug. 3: The Bryant Fire (separate from first incident), 325 acres burned

In total, the above fires add up to more than 925 acres that have burned. It was in the last fire, the Bryant Fire II, in which a firefighter broke a leg, according to the San Bernardino County Sun.

"San Bernardino County Fire takes arson personally due to the extreme threat to the citizens we serve and the firefighters who put themselves between the fire and communities they protect," Fire Chief Mark Hartwig said. "Catching and convicting these criminals is a high priority."

Samra was taken to the Glen Helen Rehabilitation Center in Devore where he was being held on $2 million bail, according to jail booking records.

Jail booking photo courtesy: San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office