A 30-year-old man who was spotted coming out of bushes near where the Sorrento fire ignited Sunday was arrested on suspicion of starting the 138-acre blaze, authorities said.
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The man, Brandon Glasco, was being held in county jail on $75,000 bail on a felony charge of arson involving forest land, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office’s online jail log.
Crews worked through the night and all day Monday to further draw a line around a brush fire that erupted Sunday afternoon in the Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve and prompted evacuation warnings to nearby residents and businesses. As of Monday evening, crews had the fire 60% contained. More than 100 firefighters will be back at the site Tuesday to continue work on the containment lines.
Firefighters stopped the forward march of the fire early Sunday evening. At one point, overnight crews called in a helicopter to help extinguish a hot spot in rugged terrain, San Diego Fire-Rescue spokesperson Candace Hadley said.
San Diego police officers doing traffic control on Vista Sorrento Parkway were flagged down by a resident who reported seeing a man come out of the brush “around the time the smoke began to appear,” said police Officer Colin Steinbroner.
Glasgo was detained and interviewed by detectives with the Metro Arson Strike Team. He was subsequently arrested, Steinbroner said.
Five years ago, court records show, a family member sought a restraining order alleging being assaulted by Glasgo. The relative also stated that Glasgo has been diagnosed with a serious mental illness.
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Over the last few years, court records indicate, Glasgo has been charged several times — from infractions alleging loitering and fare evasion to felony charges alleging he resisted arrest. The court docket indicates criminal proceedings in a 2023 case were suspended two times — in 2024 and again in 2025 — so his mental competency could be evaluated. He was later found competent in both instances.
More than 125 fire personnel, including Fire-Rescue engine companies and brush rigs as well as Cal Fire hand crews and bulldozers, were at the site Monday.
The popular preserve remained under an evacuation order as of Monday evening. Fire-Rescue will post updates throughout the day on its X account.
The fire began near the same spot where a brush fire in June burned about 90 acres. Deputy Chief Dan Eddy said the remote location required firefighters to hike about 20 minutes before they could even start fighting the fire. The firefight grew to include six helicopters and three air tankers.
Hadley said investigators do not believe Sunday’s fire was related to the June fire, the cause of which remains under investigation.
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