Glendora and Azusa Police are setting a containment after reportedly spotting a man matching the description of the arson suspect who lit three spot fires in the Glendora foothills.
The search is being conducted in the 500 block of Viewcrest Drive in Azusa north of Sierra Madre where the man was reportedly fleeing officers who are attempting to catch him, according to Azusa Police broadcast traffic.
Glendora Police issued a statement asking for the public’s help in identifying a suspicious man seen in the hillsides before the fire ignited.
The male white or Hispanic in his 30s with short, dark hair was seen on Garcia Trail around 8 a.m. When fire fighters confronted him, he made obscene gestures towards them, Glendora Police said. An hour later, a man matching the description was seen on the long road lead towards Church of the Open Door.
The subject was throwing rock a at a delivery truck leaving the church. The subject also reportedly thew a lit cigarette at a fire truck responding to the spot fires.
The suspect is described as wearing a dark t-shirt, tan shorts and has a transient appearance. Anyone with any information is encouraged to call Detective Sergeant Marty Amaro at (626) 914-8250.
The suspicious spot fires burned about less than one acre of brush behind St. Lucy’s Priory High School and the Church of the Open Door Wednesday morning.
Fire officials revised their acreage assessment to less than one acre burned. Fire investigators are looking into the possibility of the fires being intentionally set, said Art Marrujo, Los Angeles County Fire dispatch supervisor.
Los Angeles County Fire Fighters were first dispatched around 9:14 a.m.
The fires burned along the hillside near the driveway between the Church of the Open Door and St. Lucy’s Priory.
The fires were knocked down at 10:04 a.m., Marrujo said.
No structures were threatened by the three spot fires, said Glendora Police through an email Nixle alert.
No injuries were reported, Marrujo said.
