Despite the cluster of fires in Highland in recent weeks, fire officials say it’s too early to tell if arson was a factor in any of them.
“Proving arson is really challenging,” said Capt. Liz Brown with Cal Fire of the five recent fires that have scorched the hillsides above Highland since June 27th’s Mart fire. “There are so many causes to a fire that we first have to close the door to before we can make that determination and unless we have an eyewitness, it’s hard to say it’s definitely arson.”
As investigators continue to probe the cause of the wildfires, Brown says the real issue this season are the fuels present in the county.
“The challenge is, right now, the grass crop that is truly carrying these fires. The whole county is covered in grass,” she explained.