MADERA COUNTY, Calif. (KMJ/KFSN) — A man has been arrested for allegedly starting a fire earlier this week in Madera County.
The Madera County Sheriff’s Office says 34-year-old Hilario Vargas Martinez intentionally started the Raymond Fire.
The fire broke out around 3:30 p.m. Monday near Raymond Road and Avenue 28 1/4. The flames scorched 40 acres, causing an estimated $300,000 in damage.
Deputies say witnesses saw Martinez deliberately lighting multiple fires along the Fresno River. Martinez would later be detained by deputies a mile away from the scene.
Deputies cited and released Martinez for a bench warrant stemming from a February incident involving drug paraphernalia.
Martinez has been booked into the Madera County Jail on three felony counts of arson and three felony counts of recklessly setting a fire.
Listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern.
