4 firefighters killed in CA arson blaze

Engine Capt. Mark Loutzenhiser, 44, of Idyllwild; engine operator Jess McLean, 27, of Beaumont; assistant engine operator Jason McKay, 27, of Phelan; and firefighter Daniel Hoover-Najera, 20, of San Jacinto died when a wall of flames -- pushed by hot, dry winds -- swept over the engine they were in and the home they were trying to protect near Palm Springs.

A fifth crew member, identified as Pablo Cerda, 23, of Fountain Valley, was injured in the incident.

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Authorities are blaming arson for the Southern California fire, which began in a remote mountainous region around 1:15 a.m. Thursday. It has burned more than 24,000 acres and is 5 percent contained, according to the CDF.

An estimated 1,750 firefighters are battling the blaze with 207 engines, 15 air tankers and eight helicopters.

Officials say the winds, combined with the rural area in which the fire was set, are the reason it has spread so quickly.

Ten homes have been destroyed in the blaze.

At this stage, we can only guess why the son of a bitch who started this fire did it.

But, I am guessing that it has something to do with insurance and the real estate market.

I hope they catch the bastard with his pants on fire.

Too bad he can only get the death penalty once.

Perhaps more tragic than anything else, aside from dying because some greedy bastard set a fire, these young men sacrificed their lives to protect someone's PROPERTY - how f*cked up is that?

Standard Operating Procedure for firefighters should be - if it doesn't breathe, it's not worth risking your life to save.