Man Sought For Setting Fires Inside East County Home

SPRING VALLEY, CA — A man was wanted Wednesday for setting multiple fires inside an inhabited home in San Diego's East County, authorities said.

A resident reported the fire around 7:35 p.m. Tuesday at their home in the 900 block of Sacramento Avenue in Spring Valley, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. Deputies from the Rancho San Diego Sheriff's Station along with the San Miguel Fire Department responded to the home.

"Units arrived within minutes and found several small fires throughout several rooms in the home," Detective Dan Wilson said.

The people inside the home were safely evacuated, Wilson said. One person was medically evaluated for minor burns and smoke inhalation.

"The fire was determined to have started inside a bedroom of the residence," Wilson said. "The cause of the fire was determined to be arson."

Detectives identified Sean Arkward, 54, as the arson suspect, Wilson said. Patrol deputies were unable to find him.

Arkward is wanted on suspicion of unlawfully and recklessly causing a fire to an inhabited structure. He was described as a Black man who is 6 feet, 3 inches tall and weighs 220 pounds, with brown eyes and short black hair.

Anyone with information on Arkward's whereabouts was asked to call the San Diego County Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at 888-580-8477. A reward of up to $1,000 was being offered for information that leads to an arrest in the case.