Saturday, just after 11:00 pm, the Emergency Communications Center received reports of a large home or mansion on fire in a rural area of southwest Bakersfield. Reporting parties described the fire as burning the roof of the structure. Upon arrival, firefighters encountered a home greater than 10,000 square feet in size, well involved with fire. Additional fire department resources were requested, to save multiple surrounding buildings at risk, as well as law enforcement to locate an individual spotted on scene at the time of the fire. Firefighters battled the blaze until after the sunrise Sunday morning and remained on scene until Monday, working to fully extinguish deep seated fires which were difficult to access. 

While firefighters worked to extinguish the fire, members from the KCFD Fire Investigations Unit continued to investigate while also canvasing the area with BPD for the suspected arsonist. The suspect was detained at approximately 9:20 am, Sunday, by KCFD Fire Investigators at Independence High school, after starting an additional two fires. Following questioning he was arrested on multiple counts of arson and booked into the Central Receiving Facility in Bakersfield, CA.