Arrest Made in Newport Beach Veterans Day Arson Investigation

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — Police and fire personnel conducted a thorough investigation following the 4 alarm Veteran's Day fire in Newport Beach. Albert Eugene Faulk, a 47-year-old formerly of Anaheim, was arrested in connection with the fire.

Approximately 40 outside storage areas, consisting of converted carports surrounded by chain link fencing, were fully engulfed with flames when the fire personnel arrived on scene Veteran's Day morning at approximately 2:30 a.m.

Faulk was reportedly occupying one of the storage units at the time of the fire, according to Newport Beach Police Department release.

A total of 66 fire personnel from Newport Beach, Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach fire departments assisted in putting out the blaze that could be seen for miles. The fire did not spread, though several power poles sustained significant fire damage according to reports from Newport Beach Police Department public information officer Jennifer Manzella.

"Two individuals, including the arrestee, were injured in the fire," she said. "No firefighters were injured during the incident however one Newport Beach firefighter was injured later in the day during the follow up investigation."

That firefighter was transported for medical attention and has since returned to work, Manzella said.

Newport Beach police secured a $50,000 warrant for Faulk's arrest on charges of Unlawfully Causing a Fire to an Inhabited Structure. He was arrested Monday morning and was booked at Orange County Jail.

Newport Beach Police Department Photos