Arson arrests in California have almost doubled in the last two years, according to Cal Fire — but the number of arson-related fires has stayed relatively the same.
Gianni Muschetto, Cal Fire's Chief of Law Enforcement and Civil Cost Recovery, says it's largely due to the public coming forward with more information.
"Anywhere from eight to 10% of Cal Fire's total fires in our jurisdiction are usually determined to be arson. So that has stayed fairly consistent. But we have been more successful in seeing an increase in our number of arrests for those arson fires," said Muschetto. "With the large fires that have occurred over the last few years, the public is being more diligent and keeping an eye out. And when they do see a fire starting, they're passing that information along."
The Dolan fire burned almost 125,000 acres, and Gomez is scheduled to be back in court in late March.