California Firefighter Fights Off Suspected Arsonist

An off-duty Oregon House firefighter battled two small grass fires Monday, but only after he also fought off the man authorities believe started those fires.

No one was hurt.

Michael Bernardis was driving on Marysville Road north of Highway 20 around 6 p.m. when he spotted a man starting grass fires on the side of the dark roadside, Yuba County Sheriff Steve Durfor said in a statement.

The suspected arsonist, later identified as Michael Wayne Bevard, 49, of Yuba County, allegedly swung a cloth bag containing several cans of beer at Bernardis, but missed, the Sheriff's Department said.

"The two men ended up in a physical confrontation before Bernardis could subdue the man and make a radio call for assistance," Durfor said Tuesday.

Bernardis could not be reached for comment.

Capt. Steve Robinson, of the Loma Rica office of the state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said seven firefighters responded to the fire call, but the flames had already been extinguished by Bernardis and passing motorists when emergency responders arrived on scene.

Robinson said the fires were started with a small cigarette lighter. Accelerants, such as gasoline, were not used, he said.

Fire damage was limited to roadside shrubs, but a neighboring cow pasture was briefly threatened, officials said.

"If the fire had crossed the barrier, it could've gone into the pasture, but it didn't," Robinson said.

Authorities have not released a motive for setting the fires.

Bevard was booked in the Yuba County Jail on suspicion of arson, assault with a deadly weapon and resisting an executive officer. He was still in custody Tuesday afternoon in lieu of $30,000 bail, jail staff confirmed.

Bernardis works for the California Water Service Co. and has been a volunteer firefighter at various Yuba County agencies since 1988, according to Marysville Volunteer Fire Department records.

Copyright 2012 - Appeal-Democrat, Marysville, Calif.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service