The Sheriff's Bomb/Arson Unit is investigating a suspicious brush fire in Santee.
It happened on Friday, February 26th just before 11:30 a.m. near the 9100 block of Carlton Hills Boulevard in the river bed just south of Mast Park . Deputies from the Santee Sheriff's Station arrived on the scene to support the Santee Fire Department. Deputies evacuated Mast Park as a precaution. Nearby residents were also notified about the fire.
A Sheriff's ASTREA helicopter assisted with water drops while firefighters tackled the flames on the ground. The fire was quickly brought under control. No structures were damaged and no one was hurt.
A person was seen leaving the area where the fire started carrying a gas can. ASTREA made loud speaker announcements about the suspect, while deputies searched on the ground. A person of interest was spotted at a nearby business, but deputies determined he was not involved with the fire.
Sheriff's Bomb/Arson has taken over the investigation. Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call the Sheriff's Department at (858) 565-5200. You can also call the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477.
Contact: Sergeant Greg Hampton
Greg.Hampton@sdsheriff.org
Sheriff's Bomb/Arson Unit
