A Valley man linked to multiple arson-related fires throughout Tulare County has been arrested.
A 62-year-old Bakersfield man is believed to have caused six fires near Porterville and Springville. Those fires pulled resources from CAL FIRE and Tulare County Fire Department during peak fire season, which has strained local departments.
CAL FIRE's law enforcement branch with the help of Tulare County Fire Department, Tulare County Sheriff's Department, and Tulare County District Attorney's Office arrested Philip Clayton Scruggs late last week.
He was arrested near Save Mart in the 900 block of West Henderson Avenue in Porterville.
On Monday, Tulare County District Attorney's Office formally charged Scruggs with six counts of arson of a structure or forest land. He's also been charged with special allegations that he used a device to light the fires.