Update: Transient Arrested For Starting Glendora Brush Fire

Glendora Police arrested a man on suspicion of starting a small brush fire that burned a quarter of an acre near Glendora Wednesday night.

According to a statement by Lt. Brian Summers, a Glendora Police officer was on patrol on Glendora Mountain Road north of Big Dalton Canyon when he noticed a brush fire climbing 100 feet up the hillside at around 9:23 p.m.

While he radioed Los Angeles County Fire to respond, he noticed a pedestrian walking away from the point of the fire's ignition.

The officer detained Edward Zavala, a 35-year-old transient. After Zavala made inconsistent statements to the officer, he was arrested on suspicion of arson.   

Zavala later claimed that he accidentally started the fire with his lighter while using it as a light source and panicked. The lighter was later recovered at the scene. 

Firefighters were able to knock down the fire within 30 minutes.

Zavala is currently being held at the Glendora City Jail on a charge of recklessly starting a fire.  His bail is set at $20,000.

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A brush fire burned about a quarter-acre near Glendora Wednesday night.

The fire in the area of Big Dalton Canyon Road and Glendora Mountain Road was reported at 9:24 p.m. and was knocked down 30 minutes later, said Phil Ulloa, supervising dispatcher with the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

No injuries were reported and no structures were threatened, Ulloa said.

-  City News Service