Suspected Calif. House Fire Arsonist Arrested
Source Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Calif.
Jan. 24--HESPERIA -- Two dogs and a rabbit died Tuesday morning in a house fire that investigators say was started by a man living in the home.
Ralph Bravot, 50, was booked into jail on suspicion of arson, San Bernardino County sheriff's officials said. Arson investigators did not reveal how the fire was ignited.
"They do know that it started inside the garage," said San Bernardino County fire spokeswoman Tracey Martinez.
San Bernardino County firefighters came to the home in the 8200 block of Alston Avenue in Hesperia at 1:50 a.m. They found the garage on fire and flames were spreading to the attic.
They also found two elderly women in the back of the home. They suffered no injuries, but due to freezing temperatures, firefighters took a woman in her 90s to the hospital as a precaution. The women -- who are mother and daughter -- told firefighters a man and some animals were still inside the residence.
Firefighters discovered the 50-year-old man -- the son and grandson of the women -- escaped before firefighters arrived. The dogs and rabbit were found dead.
Firefighters extinguished the blaze in 25 minutes, keeping flames from spreading beyond the garage and an adjacent bedroom. Damage was estimated at $100,000.
The residents said several smoke detectors activated when the fire started, alerting them to the fire.
"In this fire, the two women's lives were definitely saved by the smoke detectors.
The blaze occurred a day after a 58-year-old woman was killed in an apartment fire in San Bernardino. Firefighters are still investigating the cause of the G Street blaze and say it is unknown if there were smoke detectors in the residence. Reach Melissa via email or call her at 909-386-3878.
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Copyright 2012 - Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Calif.
