A parolee taken into custody Wednesday is under investigation for possibly sparking a wildfire that scorched 85 open acres at the Oceanside-Camp Pendleton border, a battalion chief said.
Jose Antonio Torres Jr., 35, was booked into the county jail in Vista early Wednesday morning on suspicion of violating the terms of his conditional release from prison.
Torres is suspected of igniting the vegetation blaze near Marine Memorial Golf Course about 1:15 p.m. Tuesday. It was not immediately clear if investigators suspect him of doing so intentionally or accidentally.
“The investigation into the fire cause will continue while he is in custody,” said Pete Lawrence, a battalion chief with the Oceanside Fire Department.
It took ground and aircraft crews about four hours to halt the spread of blaze, which blackened 78 acres in Oceanside and seven on the grounds of Camp Pendleton. No structural damage or injuries were reported.
The smoldering burn area east of Interstate 5 and north of state Route 76 was expected to be fully contained Wednesday evening, Lawrence said.
–City News Service
