SAN BERNARDINO – (INT) – The homeless are getting the blame for many recent fires in the city’s abandoned and vacant buildings.

Several homeless people were living inside a one-time office building on Waterman Avenue that went up in flames Wednesday.

There were no reported injuries.

Fire Department spokesman Mike Arvizo says the homeless and the fires they start are a city-wide problem.

“There are warming fires or just careless fires. It’s hard to say if they are deliberately starting those fires.”

Whatever their intent, Arvizo says they can be prosecuted for arson.

Story Date: September 23, 2014