Transient arrested in connection with 3 recent Homeland fires
Cal Fire arson investigators arrested Marcos Aispuro for suspicion of setting three arson fires in the Homeland area.
HOMELAND – A transient from the unincorporated areas of Homeland and Romoland was arrested on suspicion of setting three Homeland area fires May 20, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department officials announced in a press release after the arrest.
The three separate arson fires were reported within 12 minutes of each other and severely strained available fire resources..
Two of the fires occurred in the 26000 block of Homeland Avenue and one fire was reported in the 31000 block of Neer Street.
Following an investigation, Cal Fire Arson Investigators arrested Marcos Aispuro, 43, for allegedly setting the fires, according to the press release about his arrest.
Epicenter News video
Three separate fires reported within 12 minutes strain firefighter’s resources
Firefighters maneuver into position to battle the residential blaze on Homeland Avenue. William Hayes, Miguel Shannon / Epicenter News photo
The first fire was reported about 2:45 a.m., in the 26000 block of Homeland Avenue in Homeland, according to Cal Fire Public Information Officer April Newman.
21 firefighters from four engine companies and one truck company responded to multiple 911 calls from citizens reporting the early-morning blaze.
The fire involved an unoccupied double-wide mobile home.
“The first arriving engine company reported an abandoned single-story, single-family dwelling with fire on the roof of the structure,” Newman wrote in a press release.
Riverside County Fire’s Hazardous Materials Team responded to assist with battling the fire and the Southern California Gas Company was called out to the location to turn off gas to the residence.
Firefighters had the blaze under control just before 4:30 a.m. and the fire was reportedly contained to the exterior, undercarriage, and roof of the mobile home. Fire personnel remained on scene for about two hours conducting follow-up and investigation.
Fire personnel discussing the Homeland Avenue blaze with the on-scene incident commander. William Hayes, Miguel Shannon / Epicenter News photo
Newman estimated the damage to the residence to be about $75,000.
No information was available regarding the second arson on Homeland Avenue that Aispuro has been accused of setting.
The third fire of a residential structure was reported to emergency dispatchers 12 minutes later, at 2:57 a.m.
According to 911 callers, the fire was burning in the 31000 block of Neer Street in Homeland.
24 Firefighters from five engine companies and one truck company responded to the reported blaze, according to Newman. They were assisted by a breathing support unit.
“The first arriving engine company reported a double-wide mobile home fully involved in fire,” Newman said. “Firefighters were able to quickly contain the fire.”
The fire was under control about 3:15 a.m., according to Newman. Fire personnel remained on scene for about one hour conducting mop-up and overhaul operations.
A follow-up and investigation were reportedly finished about 4 a.m.
Fire fighters battle a structure fire on Neer Street in Homeland. William Hayes, Miguel Shannon / Epicenter News photo
It was not immediately known if Aispuro is a suspect in any of the other many fires set in the Homeland area, including the Community First Church of God on SR 74 near Juniper Flats Road that burned to the ground on April 30 and at least five other fires that were intentionally set in the same area of Homeland in the early morning hours of May 10.
Following their investigation, an arson investigator booked Aispuro into the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside and he was later transferred to the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning.
An online jail records search revealed Aispuro was booked on three counts of arson to a structure, one count of arson to a property and possession of narcotics-related paraphernalia.
Aispuro is being held in lieu of $150,000 bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned at the Riverside Hall of Justice Friday, June 3.
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Trevor Montgomery runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News and Anza Valley Outlook and also writes for Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.
Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg and breaking his back in an off-duty accident.
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 26 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and has 13 children and 12 – soon to be 13 – grandchildren.
What a sad sack .
Too bad the karmic flames didn’t jump on to him in the process.