The Region : Stiff Arson Penalties Sought

Arsonists would receive the death penalty or life in prison if anyone dies in a fire they set, under a bill introduced by Rep. David Dreier (R-La Verne) last week.

Dreier introduced the bill after investigators determined that 20 of 26 fires in the Southland over past month were deliberately set. Three people died in those blazes.

The legislation also calls for prison sentences of 40 years for arsonists causing injury or $25 million in damage. Those who start fires accidentally would face up to a year in jail or 2,000 hours community service if a home is destroyed.

In addition, the U.S. Forest Service would get $15 million for additional airplanes with firefighting capacity. The bill also asks forest and fire officials to examine the creation of additional access roads and backup power supplies to ensure that water pressure is maintained if electric pumps fail.