A 43 year-old woman has been arrested in connection with the June 23rd vegetation fire in the Fremont hills above Niles.
On Sunday, June 23, 2019, at approximately 10:00 p.m., Fremont Fire responded to a brush fire in the hills east of Mission Blvd, near Nichols Road in the Niles area. The fire, limited to vegetation along the hillside above the Niles District, burned in close proximity to about a dozen residences and structures. Several Fremont patrol officers responded to assist Fire and coordinated the safe evacuation of approximately 30 people residing in the area.
The fire was estimated to burn approximately five acres and was contained within three hours. There were no injuries and no loss of structures. Several agencies including Hayward Fire, Cal Fire and Alameda County Fire provided mutual aid to the City of Fremont during this incident.
Based on witness statements and evidence collected at the scene, it’s believed the fire started during a verbal altercation between a man and woman behind the property of the Belvoir Springs (36900 block of Mission Blvd). During the argument, a woman later identified as 43 year old Christina Haller, fired a flare from a modified pellet gun at the victim. The flare missed the victim and landed in dry brush, which started the fire. The suspect fled on foot into the hills and was not located. Officers recovered the modified flare gun at the scene.
General Crimes Detectives were immediately notified and assumed the investigation. On June 24, 2019, a warrant was signed by an Alameda County Superior Court Judge for the arrest of Christina Haller on the following charges:
PC273.5 - Corporal Injury to person from a prior dating relationship
PC245(1)(2) - Assault with a deadly weapon; firearm
PC452(C) - Unlawfully causing a fire of structure/forest land
On June 26, 2019, at 10:10 p.m. Mountain View Police arrested Haller pursuant to the warrant in their City.
Haller is scheduled for her first court appearance on Tuesday, July 2, 2019. Haller did not provide a statement to police.
We are lucky no one was injured during this fire and this is a good reminder that our City is not immune from fire danger. This is a good time to talk to family members about escape/evacuation plans, test your fire alarms, have an emergency kit ready and check your property for dry brush and vegetation, especially if you reside on the hill side of Mission Blvd or near open space. For more tips and information visit www.fremont.gov/fire.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to please contact police investigators at 510-790-6900 or email Detective MacDonald at [email protected]. We will also accept anonymous tips. Text, Tip FremontPD followed by your short message to 888-777 or via the web at https://local.nixle.com/tip/alert/6216337.
