Irvine Police arrested 41-year-old Jose Antonio LozanoMartinez on suspected arson after he intentionally set multiple fires along the 261 Toll Road.
Last night, at approximately 6:22 p.m., the Irvine Police Department (IPD), the California Highway Patrol, and the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) responded to a report of a vegetation fire along the 261 Toll Road at Interstate 5. Upon arrival, there was an active fire burning that was extinguished by OCFA. Initially, the cause of the fire could not be determined.
Approximately two hours later, another vegetation fire was located near an apartment community along the 261 Toll Road at Bryan Ave. As OCFA was extinguishing the second fire, IPD officers deployed a drone to look for additional fires and anyone in the area who may have been responsible.
As the drone operator was checking the area, he located a man starting a fire in the brush along the 261 Toll Road near Irvine Blvd. The drone operator directed IPD officers and OCFA fire investigators to the area where the man was hiding and he was taken into custody without incident. Click here to view drone footage.
The suspect was identified as LozanoMartinez and he was booked at the Orange County Jail. This case will be referred to the Orange County District Attorney’s office for prosecution.
If you have any information related to this case, please contact Detective Justin Russell at (949) 751-7118.