The suspected cause of the long-burning Martinez Fire on the Torres-Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians reservation is arson, according to the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
The fire at the Sun Valley Recycling Center in Thermal has now been burning for one month. The fire is completely contained and 98% controlled, with some hot spots still burning inside mulch piles at the site.
A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for tips leading to the arrest and conviction of any person responsible for the Martinez Fire or any other area fires, the BIA said.
Celeste Prescott, the BIA's lead public information officer for the Martinez Fire, said it is a challenging case, and that the agency relied on tips.
"It's hard to trace back exactly where it started because of the type of material it's in," Prescott said.