On Thursday, news broke that three brush fires in the San Diego, California area started in homeless encampments.
The San Diego Metro Arson Strike Team (MAST) confirmed this news to NBC 7 on Thursday.
The fires in question were the Friars Fire in Mission Valley, the Center Fire in Rancho Bernardo and the Gilman Fire in La Jolla (via NBC San Diego):
On Jan. 21, a brush fire on a hillside across from Fashion Valley Mall in Mission Valley threatened structures and prompted evacuation orders.
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On Jan. 22, firefighters responded to a brush fire on a mountainside in Rancho Bernardo that threatened homes and injured one person, according to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.
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By 11 a.m., the fire had grown to 7 acres with no containment, but fire crews appeared to have an upper hand on the blaze, and some resources were being dispersed. By 1 p.m., containment was at 50%. All evacuation orders and warnings were lifted a little more than two hours later, San Diego police said.
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On Jan. 23, a brush fire was burning close to homes and quickly prompted evacuations in La Jolla.
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Before the more than 175 responding firefighters got a hold on the situation, officials issued evacuation orders and warnings for the areas near the Gilman Fire shortly before 3 p.m. Nearly an hour later, authorities said those orders and warnings had been lifted.
BREAKING: Investigators say the three fires that broke out in San Diego last week were all started in homeless encampments.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 31, 2025
Build a manmade island a few miles off the coast of California, ship the homeless out there, problem solved.
The three fires were all in different areas… pic.twitter.com/p77gyAK80P
The Golden State has been ravaged by wildfires this month. killing at least 29 people around Los Angeles.