Transient Arrested For Arson In Sparkletts Fire In Lakeside

LAKESIDE, CA – A man was arrested on suspicion of intentionally setting a brush fire this week in San Diego's East County, Cal Fire officials said Thursday.

The blaze broke out around noon Monday in the 11000 block of state Route 67 in Lakeside. Crews from Cal Fire and Heartland Fire & Rescue responded to the fire, called the Sparkletts Fire, and quickly extinguished the flames, Cal Fire Capt. Issac Sanchez said.

The blaze burned a half-acre of brush and caused the closure of SR-67. No injuries were reported and no structures were threatened.

Daniel Reyes Ortega, a 21-year-old transient in Lakeside, was arrested Monday on suspicion of willfully and maliciously setting fire to forest land, Sanchez said. He was booked into San Diego Central Jail and was being held in lieu of $75,000 bail.

Photo by Renee Schiavone/Patch