Newberry Springs firefighter investigated for possible arson

NEWBERRY SPRINGS • The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a Newberry Springs firefighter accused of arson.

Deputies arrested Aaron Austin, 26, on suspicion of arson of an inhabited structure at his home on the 46000 block of Silver Valley Road on Dec. 10. However, he was released Monday afternoon after the district attorney’s office announced that they didn’t believe there was enough evidence to charge him at the time, according to Deputy District Attorney Joel Buckingham.

Austin is a paid call firefighter for the Newberry Springs Fire Department. Assistant Chief Steve Miller said that Austin is on regular duty currently.

“As far as we know he has no pending charges against him,” Miller said. “In this country you’re considered innocent until proven guilty. He has been a good fit at the department. We have no reason to take him off duty.”

Deputy Damon Ward said that Austin was arrested in connection with a fire that destroyed a trailer east of his home on Silver Valley Road at 8:45 p.m. on Dec. 2.  Ward said that the trailer appeared to be used for storage. The cause of the fire was not confirmed and is still under investigation, according to Ward. Austin was part of the firefighter crew that responded to the fire, according to Miller.

Ward said that the district attorney’s office asked for more information on the case and he is continuing the investigation into the fire. Miller said that the Newberry Springs Fire Department is cooperating with the sheriff’s department’s investigation.

“We want everything to be done legal and above board,” Miller said. “The sheriff’s are conducting the investigation because one of our members is accused of being involved. You don’t want any appearance of bias.”

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(760) 256-4126 or dheldreth@desertdispatch.com