Former California Firefighter Pleads Guilty To Arson

A firefighter from Greenfield pleaded guilty Monday to starting several fires in the Los Padres National Forest in 2004.

Craig Underwood was accused of starting three fires, the largest of which was the Fred's Fire, which burned about 750 acres and took fire crews five days to put out. He was also accused of setting two smaller fires in July and August of 2004.

Officials said the cost of fighting the three fires was about $2.5 million.

Underwood could face five years in prison for each offense. He is scheduled to be sentenced in San Jose in May.

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