A man accused of starting a brush fire in the Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve over the weekend appeared in court Wednesday to face an arson charge.
Brandon Glasgo, 30, pleaded not guilty to starting the Sorrento Fire, which scorched 138 acres of wildland near Sorrento Valley Sunday afternoon. The fire prompted evacuation orders and warnings for communities surrounded the fire.
A judge set Glasgo’s bail at $75,000. He was ordered to wear a GPS monitor and he was not allowed to have fire-starting devices.
SDPD spokesperson Officer Colin Steinbroner said a tipster alerted officers to someone suspicious in the area near the fire start. Glasgo was identified as the individual and was arrested Sunday, Steinbroner said.
Deputy District Attorney Jacob Carbajal said Galsgo admitted to using a butane torch lighter to ignite a tumbleweed. The prosecutor said he did it because he was angry with a bicyclist who made some remarks at him.
Glasgo’s father said his son is mentally ill and homeless. Court records obtained by NBC San Diego show Glasgo has been arrested multiple times for charges that include felony battery and resisting arrest.
“There’s a a lot of detective work as far as how many resources were used, how many fire engines, and obviously there’s a huge community affected it’s been detrimental to the community especially here now in fire season,” Carbajal said.
The canyon remained under an evacuation order Thursday as dozens of crews worked to contain the blaze, which sparked around 3:15 p.m. Sunday near Sorrento Valley Boulevard and Carmel Mountain Road.
Glasgo is set to appear in court next on Aug. 27.