January 31, 2013 (Jamul) –Devin Gaillard has been arrested and charged with murder and arson.  Another suspect, Miles Sharp, was arrested January 25 on the same charges.  Both men have been booked in connection with the death of Dillon A. Davis, 20, whose body was found in the trunk of a burning vehicle on Skyline Truck Trail in Jamul on September 20, 2012.

December 12, 2012 -- (San Diego’s East County)--East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL/REGIONAL

• Arson frightens Rancho San Diego family (U-T San Diego)
• The fall of the Union-Tribune (Media Matters)
• Tree-trimming, electric contactors pay $370 million for 2007 wildfires U-T San Diego)
• APNewsBreak: Dispute over records at [San Onofre] nuclear plant  (U-T San Diego)
• Prop R leaves Ramona schools with no plan B (U-T San Diego)
• Congressman Darrell Issa’s home burglarized (KUSI)
• Natural medical school is latest development in growing trend (U-T San Diego)
• Lemon Grove city hours revamped (U-T San Diego)
• El Cajon Boulevard changes precursor to revitalization regionwide (U-T San Diego)
• La Mesa man’s 459 pound tuna biggest of all time? (U-T San Diego)
• Planning group listens to residents, votes against evacuation lighting (Ramona Patch)

STATE

• New UC logo a no go with students and alumni (Los Angeles Times)
• Renewed call for probe of Wildlife Services (Sacramento Bee)
• Senator Gaines introduces bill to repeal fire tax (Lakeside News)

Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.

October 3, 2012 (El Cajon) -- They are on the front lines of finding and defusing bombs. Take a trip into the world of robots as the Sheriff’s Bomb/Arson Unit showcases its high tech tools at a Robo Expo.

Members of the Sheriff’s Bomb/Arson Unit will have a display at the San Diego Science Alliance Robotic Education Expo on Saturday, October 6th from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. It will be held at the Cuyamaca Community College Student Center, 900 Rancho San Diego Parkway, El Cajon.

August 4, 2011 (San Diego's East County) -- Two men have been arrested for arson in the Eagle Fire investigation, Cal-Fire announced this afternoon.  A joint law enforcement investigation between Cal Fire law enforcement, Los Coyotes tribal police, San Diego County Sheriff and the District Attorney's office led to the arrests today of Jeremy Joseph Ortiz and Jesse James Durbin. Both men are 23 years old.

July 25, 2011 (San Diego's East County) -- Cal Fire is asking for your help in identifying suspected arsonists.

If you see a fire start, report it and remember everything you saw, Cal Fire advises. Make note of any suspicious vehicles or persons. The information you have, no matter how minor, could be the key to stopping the arsonist.

July 4, 2010 (La Mesa) – Investigators from Heartland Fire & Rescue have determined that a cigarette smoker started a brush fire shortly after 11:30 this morning in La Mesa. Fortunately, an alert homeowner spotted the blaze and called 911 to report a fire behind her home in the 7000 block of Saranac Street.  Firefighters arrived within five minutes and  fully extinguished flames ten minutes later from the quarter-acre fire burning in light, flashy fuels.

Cal-Fire provides arson hotline for tips to bust firebugs

July 2, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) -- One out of four fires is started by arson, Cal Fire reports.

“When an arsonist sets a fire, everyone pays,” a public service announcement issued today by Cal-Fire reveals. “Arson fires destroy homes, businesses, communities, forests, wildlands and lives." Arson costs also include fire losses, firefighting expenses and higher insurance premiums--plus arson fires tie up fire crews and equipment.

San Diego County –  Previously convicted arsonist Shane Daniel McClung has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for intentionally setting a structure on fire near the community of Boulevard, in September 2009.

September 24, 2009 (Boulevard) –On Monday, CAL FIRE Battalion Chief and acting Boulevard Fire Chief John Francois informed Boulevard Fire Board members that a paroled arsonist had been living in the community.  The arsonist is now back in custody for violating his parole terms.

“Several suspicious fires are still under investigation,” Donna Tisdale, Chair of the Boulevard Planning Group informed East County Magazine. Tisdale expressed shock that community members were kept in the dark about a potentially dangerous arsonist in their midst at the height of fire season—and she is now calling for reforms in the law to require that neighbors be notified if an arsonist is turned loose in their neighborhood.

$10,000 REWARD OFFERED

September 4, 2009 (Vista) – Vista is not in East County. But an arsonist anywhere in our County poses a threat to us all. One spark on a windy day can spread a fire far beyond its origins.

San Diego County Sheriff's Vista detectives and Crime Stoppers seek the public’s help to find an arsonist who torched public vehicles, causing $50,000 in damage. Authorities also seek vandals who sprayed racist/hate graffiti, including swastikas, on public vehicles and buildings at 1790 Shadowridge Drive in Vista, a fenced yard owned by the City of Vista. Below is a description from Crimestoppers: