Police are investigating a series of at least three arson fires that were set near Anaheim and Yorba Linda on Monday. Fortunately, the fires didn’t pose any risk to homes or businesses. Now authorities want to find the person who set them. Gadi Schwartz reports from Anaheim for the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. on Aug. 20, 2013.
Police are searching for an arsonist in connection with three fires during a four-hour period Monday that burned brush in Orange County.
The first fire, the largest of the three, burned about 4 acres at about noon Monday in the 7800 block of East Horizon Drive in Anaheim.
A second fire was set at about 3 p.m. in the Copper Canyon area of Yorba Linda. That fire burned about 3 acres.
The third fire, reported about 30 minutes later, was near Blue Sky and Weir Canyon roads. The fire burned about 1 acre.
Whoever set the fires was still at large Tuesday evening. Authorities located a man described as a "person of interest" in the case, but cleared the individual after speaking with him, according to Anaheim police.
One of the fires in Yorba Linda was in the same spot where an apartment complex was decimated during the Freeway Complex Fire in 2008.
“It's unfortunate that someone would choose to be an arsonist considering the history that this area has had,” resident Tim Foley said. “They are rebuilding from being burned out.”
Residents in Anaheim Hills have a message for the arsonist:
“Go somewhere else. Get out of Anaheim hills,” Don Littlejohn said.
The fires, located near the 91 and 241 freeways, did not threaten structures, police said.
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Anyone with information about the fires is asked to call 1-855-841-6881.
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