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KCFD officials say they believe they have serial arsonist in custody

Posted at 7:43 AM, Sep 27, 2017
and last updated 2017-09-27 17:55:25-04

UPDATE (2:45 p.m.)

Kern County Fire Department Arson Investigators arrested 41-year-old Damon Franklin.

Franklin is charged with four counts of Arson that resulted in damage to three trash cans and a fence. Firefighters were dispatched at 7:25am today to an alley near North Chester and Pilot Avenues.

Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the burning trash cans and fence before the flames spread to nearby apartments.

Franklin was detained by KCSO in an alley behind the 400-block of Day Avenue. He was later arrested by Kern County Fire Department Arson Investigators at KCSO Headquarters on Norris Road.

At the present time, investigators are gathering information that may link Franklin to several of yesterday's suspicious fires in Oildale.

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UPDATE (11:40 a.m.): 

Sheriff's Deputies have Arrested the man they believe is responsible for the dumpster fires and continue to investigate whether he is tied to the other fires in this area. 

 

He was detained A few blocks away from the this scene in an alley near the 400 block of Day Avenue. shortly after the fires broke out. He was taken to the Kern County Jail where he was arrested and faces arson charges. 

 

The description of the man arrested does seem to coincide with the description of the serial arsonist that was given yesterday. 

 

 

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UPDATE (8:19 a.m.): Kern County Fire officials say they responded to the fire on Pilot and North Chester where they found three fires - two trash can fires and a utility trailer with tree branches on it. 

That fire was threatening a trash can and a fence at a nearby apartment complex. 

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UPDATE (8:05 a.m.): Kern County Fire officials say they believe they have the serial arsonist in custody. 

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Kern County Fire crews are on the scene of another fire in Oildale on Wednesday morning.

According to KCFD officials, dumpsters were intentionally set on fire in the area of Pilot and North Chester. 

This fire comes a day after six buildings caught fire on Tuesday. KCFD says they are looking for a person of interest in those fires. 

KCFD officials say they cannot confirm that this morning's fire is related.