Serial Arsonist Sought in North Orange County, Police Say: Watch

SANTA ANA, CA — Firefighter's meal "money jars" or "kitty" as they call them have been raided at stations where arson fires were set, according to police.

Police in Irvine, Santa Ana and Anaheim Friday were working together to track down a suspect they believe has been setting blazes to give himself an opportunity to raid the meal "kitty" at fire stations.

On Dec. 18, Santa Ana authorities responded to three fires, two of which were investigators confirmed were deliberately set, Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said.

The third blaze is a suspected arson that scorched a residence, he said.

Wooden pallets were set ablaze at one fire near Station 72 at 1688 E. 4th St., Bertagna said.

During one of the blazes, after the firefighters had left the station, the suspect dashed inside and grabbed "money in the kitty for food, but nothing else is disturbed and there's no ransacking, no forced entry," Bertagna said.

"We're working with Irvine because they had two fires close to fire stations, but no burglaries," Bertagna said.
Surveillance video shows the suspect was driving a 2000-05 Buck LeSabre, Bertagna said.

In Anaheim, an arson fire was reported at 4 a.m. Tuesday at Ganahl Lumber at 1220 E. Ball Road, Anaheim police Sgt. Daron Wyatt said. Around the same time, a thief took about $800 in meal money out of Station 7 at 2222 E. Ball Road, Wyatt said.

In Irvine, Orange County Fire Authority firefighters responded to blazes about 6 a.m. Tuesday, three blocks apart, near Yale and Walnut avenues, said Irvine police Lt. Michael Kent.

There were no reported burglaries in each case, likely because backup firefighters were sent to the station, Wyatt said.

City News Service contributed to this report. Santa Ana Police, Photo