Second Man Charged With Arson in Eagle Fire

A second man has been charged with arson in connection with the 14,100-acre which began on Los Coyotes Indian Reservation, Cal Fire reported Thursday.

One of the suspects was already in the Vista Detention Center and the other was detained on the reservation Thursday and handed over to Cal Fire.

The charges come as the result of a joint law enforcement investigation by Cal Fire, Los Coyotes Tribal Police, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department and the District Attorneys office, Cal Fire reported.

Jeremy Ortiz, 23, was arrested and booked into Vista Detention Center on the charge of arson. Jesse Durbin, also 23, was already in the same detention center on unrelated charges. He was also charged with arson.

The Eagle Fire began about five miles east of Warner Springs, on the night of July 21 and spread east to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. It began on land leased by the Los Coyotes tribe to a private company called ERTC, formerly Eagle Rock Training Center. The company provided the land to military and other government entities for training exercises. A guard shack on that land was destroyed in the fire.

More than 2,000 firefighters from all over California battled the brushfire using helicopters, bulldozers and ground tools. The estimated cost of the fire suppression efforts is $15.4 million.