Tag Archives: Arson

Man arrested for arson related to destructive California fire

A general view of burned properties destroyed by the Clayton Fire is seen along Quarterhorse Lane in Lower Lake in California, U.S.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. (Reuters) – A man was arrested on Monday on suspicion of arson, officials said, over a wildfire in Northern California that has destroyed more than 175 homes and businesses and forced hundreds of residents to flee.

The conflagration is one of two dozen major wildfires across the drought-parched U.S. West that have all together charred nearly 300,000 acres (120,000 hectares).

Damin Pashilk, 40, faces 17 counts of arson over the so-called Clayton Fire, in the foothill community of Lower Lake, and other fires nearby over the past year, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) said.

“Mr. Pashilk committed a horrific crime and we will seek prosecution to the fullest extent of the law,” Cal Fire Chief Ken Pimlott said in a statement.

The fire, burning some 80 miles (130 km) north of San Francisco, was driven by fierce winds after sparking on Saturday evening. It threatens 1,500 structures besides the more than 175 destroyed, Cal Fire said on Monday.

There were no reports of casualties, however.

The Clayton fire, which had blackened about 4,000 acres (1,600 hectares) by late Monday afternoon, was about 5 percent contained, fire officials said.

More than 1,600 firefighters were battling the flames, Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant said, adding that receding winds on Sunday evening had allowed crews to make progress cutting containment lines around the flames and putting out hot spots.

The nearby community of Clear Lake was evacuated, and sheriff’s deputies in Lake County were investigating burned-out structures.

On Monday afternoon, California Governor Jerry Brown, a Democrat, declared states of emergency for the Clayton fire and another in San Luis Obispo County, the so-called Chimney fire, allowing local officials to get help from emergency response agencies statewide.

The Chimney fire was just 10 percent contained by Monday evening. It had scorched more than 5,400 acres (2,185 hectares) within less than 48 hours after erupting on Saturday afternoon, destroying a dozen structures and threatening about 200 more, with hundreds of residents being told to evacuate.

One of the season’s largest fires so far, the Soberanes blaze, was 60 percent contained by Monday. It burned through more than 74,600 acres (30,189 hectares) near scenic Big Sur, destroying 57 homes after it began on July 22.

A bulldozer operator died on July 26 when his tractor rolled over as he helped property owners battle the flames, this year’s sixth wildfire fatality in California.

Authorities have traced the Soberanes fire to an illegal campfire left unattended in a state park.

(Reporting by Stephen Lam in Middletown, Calif.; Additional reporting by Sharon Bernstein in Sacramento, Calif.; Writing by Dan Whitcomb and Curtis Skinner; Editing by Matthew Lewis and Clarence Fernandez)

Arson Survivor Receives 480,000-plus Christmas Cards, Disney Trip

The 8-year-old arson survivor whose story about her desire for Christmas cards prompted an outpouring of holiday cheer from around the world is getting a lot more than she ever asked for.

Sa’fyre Terry was the only survivor of a May 2013 blaze in Schenectady, New York, that killed her father and three siblings. Family friends say Terry suffered burns on more than 75 percent of her body and had her right hand and left foot amputated as a result of her extensive injuries.

This Christmas, she received a tree-shaped Christmas card holder and wanted to receive enough cards to fill up the tree. After family friends shared Terry’s photo and story on Facebook, the story went viral and she began receiving cards, donations and support from around the globe.

In a Facebook post on a page monitoring Terry’s recovery, supporters wrote she received more than 480,000 Christmas cards through Monday, a number that has undoubtedly increased. Supporters wrote she had received a card from all 50 states — including one from the Obama family — as well as countries like Dubai, Malaysia, Australia, France, Brazil, China and India.

Students at the nearby University of Albany also presented her with a robotic right hand.

According to a Facebook posting, Terry also recently learned that she’ll be spending part of February at Walt Disney World, courtesy of Baking Memories 4 Kids. The nonprofit organization sells chocolate chip cookies online at BakingMemories4Kids.com and uses the proceeds to send children with life-threatening illnesses to amusement parks in Florida.

A crowdsourced fundraising page that had been established to help Terry’s caregivers with a host of expenses had a goal of $15,000, but had generated more than $398,000 as of Thursday.

Palestinian Rioters Set Fire to Joseph’s Tomb

After a month or rising tensions and violence, Palestinian rioters set fire to Joseph’s Tomb, a Jewish holy site in the West Bank city of Nablus that is believed to contain the remains of the Biblical patriarch.

The arson came hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for Palestinian leaders to stop the attacks that have been plaguing the nation for weeks. Rioters attacked Joseph’s tomb with petrol bombs.

“The burning and desecration of Joseph’s Tomb last night is a blatant violation and contradiction of the basic value of freedom of worship. The IDF will take all measures to bring the perpetrators of this despicable act to justice, restore the site to its previous condition and ensure that the freedom of worship returns to Joseph’s Tomb,” IDF Spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner said in a statement Friday morning.

Palestinian Authority security forces arrived on the scene, dispersing the crowd and dousing the fire. Once the confrontation was over, Israel Defense Forces were deployed to the area according to Channel 2 television. There were no reports of any injuries.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli leaders quickly condemned the attacks. Israeli leaders compared it to the actions of ISIS who have destroyed various holy sites throughout the Middle East. Abbas stated that the holy site would be repaired and called for an investigation.

In a separate incident on Friday, a Palestinian man disguised himself as a journalist and attacked an Israeli soldier. The soldier suffered minor wounds; the attacker was shot on site.

Tensions High in Israel Following Alleged Jewish Terror Attack

An attack on two Palestinian homes in the West Bank that burned the homes and killed an 18-month-old boy is causing a major increase in the region’s tension.

The buildings were marked with graffiti that lead authorities to believe it was carried out by Jewish terrorists.  A star of David was painted on one building along with the message “Long live the Messiah.”

The family of the murdered boy has been hospitalized in critical condition, including a 4-year-old-boy.

“I am shocked by the murder of Ali Dawabshe,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a statement released on Facebook.  “This is a reprehensible and horrific act of terrorism in every respect. The State of Israel takes a strong line against terrorism regardless of who the perpetrators are. I have ordered the security forces to use all means at their disposal to apprehend the murderers and bring them to justice forthwith. The Government of Israel is united in its strong opposition to such deplorable and awful acts. On behalf of the citizens of Israel, I would like to share in the sorrow of the family of Ali Dawabshe and wish a quick recovery to the family members who were injured.”

The Palestinian Authority said they will take the Israeli government in front of the International Criminal Court and say that the action is a war crime by the Israeli government.

Other nations around the world condemned the attack but welcomed Israel’s position they will go after the terrorists and bring them to justice.

“[The U.S.] condemns in the strongest possible terms last night’s vicious terrorist attack in the Palestinian village of Duma. We convey our profound condolences to the Dawabsha family and extend our prayers for a full recovery to those injured,” US State Department spokesman Mark Toner said.

“We welcome Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu’s order to Israel’s security forces to use all means at their disposal to apprehend the murderers for what he called an act of terrorism and bring them to justice.”

Both Netanyahu and Israeli President Reuben Rivlin visited the family at the hospital and told them they would seek swift justice to whoever carried out the attack.

Palestinians have already begun to carry out acts of terrorism in response to the Thursday night action.  Israelis across the nation are reporting various acts of arson by Palestinians.  Israeli cars have been hit by gunfire and at least one policeman was wounded in an attack at the Temple Mount.

FBI, ATF Investigating Arsons at Black Churches

The FBI is investigating a string of arsons at black churches, the majority in the south.

The agency has confirmed that three of the fires being investigated were arson.  The fires began less than a week after the massacre of 9 people at a South Carolina church made up of a predominantly black congregation.

“They’re being investigated to determine who is responsible and what motives are behind them,” FBI spokesperson Paul Bresson told BuzzFeed News. “I’m not sure there is any reason to link them together at this point.”

Churches have been burned in Tennessee, Georgia, South and North Carolina, Ohio and Florida.  The ATF is taking the lead in the investigations

“ATF is the lead investigative agency, and we have special agents and certified fire investigators from several field divisions investigating the fires to determine cause and origin,” Ginger Colbrun, spokeswoman for the ATF, said in a statement provided to the Los Angeles Times on Monday. “We are in the early stages of these investigations, but at this time we have no reason to believe these fires are racially motivated or related.”

The pastor of Briar Creek Road Baptist Church in East Charlotte, North Carolina says that the arson at his church caused over $250,000 in damages.

“We have already forgiven them and we’re hoping that the investigation will take its place and do what’s necessary,” Kinsey told WBTV. “These buildings can be repaired, they can be built over. This is the opportunity for God to really touch the hearts of individuals … we don’t have any malice against anyone else.”

A fire at College Heights Baptist Church in Ohio reportedly caused over a million dollars in damage.

Arson Attack On Israeli Christian Church

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is vowing to capture and punish whoever is behind the arson attack on a Christian church near the See of Galilee.

“This outrageous arson attack against the church is an attack on all of us,” he said. “Freedom of worship in Israel is one of our core values and is guaranteed under the law. We will bring to justice those responsible for this crime. Hate and intolerance have no place in our society.”

The Church of Loaves and Fishes was burned around 3:30 a.m. causing extensive damage to the church both inside and out.  Hebrew graffiti was painted on the church leading officials to believe the incident was an arson attack.

“I am sure that the police force will do everything in its power to arrest those responsible, and to prevent similar attacks in the future,” Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely said.  “The State of Israel safeguards the freedom of worship of all faiths and completely rejects any and all attempts to harm it.”

“I strongly condemn the attack and any types of violence against representatives of religious institutions or the institutions themselves. It is necessary to ensure that these institutions will remain protected in Israel, as well as in Germany and Europe. Incidents such as these must not be allowed to be repeated,” German Ambassador Andreas Michaelis said at the site of the attack.

The church was built in the 1980s on the site of 4th and 5th century churches.  It is the location where Jesus is believed to have performed the miracle of multiplying the loaves and fishes.

Muslim Mobs Burn Down Christian Homes and Churches

Muslims in Niger attacked Christians, burning their homes and churches over the weekend, in retaliation for the French magazine Charlie Hebdo publishing a cartoon of Muhammad.

The International Christian Concern reported missionaries in the capital city of Naimey said all of their churches have been burned to the ground along with the homes of every pastor in the city.  Some of the missionaries’ homes are among those destroyed by the mobs.

However, the missionaries reported that while smoke is “around all of side our house”, they are going to remain in Niger to speak the truth of Christ.

The protests apparently began at the grand mosque in the city and the mob then began their attack on Christians.

“I just rushed and told my colleagues in the church to take away their families from the place,” Pastor Zakaria Jadi said. “I took my family to take them out from the place. When I came back I just discovered that everything has gone. There’s nothing in my house and also in the church.”

Boko Haram’s leader was born in Niger and is believed to continue to have strong contacts in the country.

Bible Storage Facility Burned In Turkey

Turkish officials are seeking an arsonist who attached a building that contained thousands of New Testaments and other Christian documents.

The fire was noticed at 7 p.m. on December 7th at the offices of Bible Correspondence Course in Istanbul, Turkey.  The BCC was located in a multistory building that also housed the Kadikoy church.

BCC Turkey says that no one was injured in the blaze and because of the concrete construction of the building there was no structural damage.  However, everything inside the building was burned to ash.

“I think whoever did it knew something about what happens up here, because they kind of knew to come on a Sunday afternoon, and that if they were going to have an opportunity where there weren’t going to be a lot of people around, that’s probably the one that was most likely,” Paul Weaver of BCC-Turkey said.

“I think the firemen were genuinely surprised that when they got there they didn’t find a bigger fire, and I call that providence,” he said. “I don’t know what else to call it because I would agree, I think it should have been a bigger fire than what they actually found.”

BCC Turkey officials say that multiple groups within the city have wanted to stop the group from distributing the Bibles.