Oceanside police arrest person suspected of arson

Authorities in Oceanside made an arson arrest Saturday of a suspect allegedly in the act of setting a fire near the intersection of El Camino Real and Oceanside Boulevard.

Officials with the Oceanside police and fire departments are investigating whether the suspect is connected to a string of recent vegetation fires they believe have been intentionally set in the Loma Alta neighborhood.

The identity of the person arrested has not been released.

The Oceanside Fire Department said it has been working “in close partnership” with the Oceanside Police Department to investigate and review evidence relating to about 14 separate fires that have broken out since July 30.

The pattern and proximity of the incidents led investigators to conduct targeted surveillance in the area that led, fire officials said, to the arrest around 1:20 a.m. Saturday.

“This arrest is the result of outstanding collaboration between Oceanside Police and Fire investigators,” Oceanside Fire Division Chief Blake Dorse said in a statement. “The swift and coordinated actions of both agencies have played a critical role in safeguarding our community.”

Investigators said they believe the suspect acted alone.