Suspicious fires may be linked

Fire officials are asking for the public’s help as they investigate a series of suspicious fires.

Santa Barbara City Fire responded to 5 small brush fires over the weekend. They now believe the fires may be linked to others over the past month.

On Saturday night, crews were called to Loma Alta Drive and Coronel Streets where a small brush fire broke out.

Eddie Montjano was at a friends house nearby when it happened.

“I heard someone yell, and I was tripping out, went outside to check and saw like it all burning up,” he says.

Fire crews knocked the flames out quickly. They were just mopping up when a second call came over the radio — a tree on fire near the railroad tracks about a mile away.

Investigators decided to walk the tracks, and that’s when they discovered two more small fires burning Cannon Perdido and Figueroa.

Investigator Ryan DiGuilio with Santa Barbara City Fire, says its the location and timing of the fires that concerns him.

“These are all red flags for us when we do our fire investigation.”

Meanwhile, back on Jan. 21, a brush fire started on Loma Alta, below TV Hill. 2 days later, a flare up in the same spot.

Crews believe a fire that broke out last Friday on the railroad tracks near Carrillo could be connected.

“We are following up on a couple of leads. We have a lot of work to do ahead,” says DiGuilio.

Fire officials are asking for residents who live in the area to be on alert and to report any suspicious activity. If you have any information, call (805) 564-5723.