VIDEO: Drone helps track suspect accused of starting fire that sparked evacuations in California
Updated: 8:57 PM EDT Jun 10, 2026
A drone helped sheriff’s deputies in California’s San Diego County track down a man who allegedly started a fire that threatened homes. Miguel Hernandez, 35, is accused of using a lighter to set a palm tree on fire in the Spring Valley area last month, forcing nearby residents to evacuate, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office.In a social media post, the sheriff’s office said its Unmanned Aerial Systems team’s drone allegedly spotted Hernandez in a riverbed and tracked his movements, relaying his location to a police helicopter. Hernandez was later arrested near a highway interchange.”This coordinated response helped firefighters safely contain the flames and allowed deputies to take the suspect into custody without further risk to the community,” the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post.The sheriff’s office said its drone program was launched in 2016. It now has more than 60 certified pilots and more than 70 aircraft that support a range of operations, including searches, rescues, and crime scene investigations.See the drone footage in the video player at the top
A drone helped sheriff’s deputies in California’s San Diego County track down a man who allegedly started a fire that threatened homes.
Miguel Hernandez, 35, is accused of using a lighter to set a palm tree on fire in the Spring Valley area last month, forcing nearby residents to evacuate, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office.
In a social media post, the sheriff’s office said its Unmanned Aerial Systems team’s drone allegedly spotted Hernandez in a riverbed and tracked his movements, relaying his location to a police helicopter. Hernandez was later arrested near a highway interchange.
“This coordinated response helped firefighters safely contain the flames and allowed deputies to take the suspect into custody without further risk to the community,” the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post.
The sheriff’s office said its drone program was launched in 2016. It now has more than 60 certified pilots and more than 70 aircraft that support a range of operations, including searches, rescues, and crime scene investigations.
See the drone footage in the video player at the top