Officials Blame Arson in 1 of 2 Simi Brush Fires

One of two brush fires that broke out near Simi Valley on Saturday was started by an arsonist, authorities said.

Investigators said the 87-acre fire that broke out near the Ronald Reagan Freeway and Erringer Road was set deliberately but was contained after about four hours with no property damage.

Assisted by two water-dropping helicopters and a bulldozer, more than 50 Ventura County firefighters battled the blaze and fully contained it by 4:30 p.m.

Investigators said they are trying to locate a witness who might have seen the arsonist. The witness was described only as a man with a child riding a silver bicycle.

County fire crews also contained without damage a second brush fire in the rugged hills near Simi Valley at the Los Angeles County line. That blaze blackened only 20 acres but threatened many homes near Bell Canyon Road and Flintlock Lane. The fire, which broke out shortly after 10:30 a.m., brought fire crews from as far away as Los Angeles to a rugged and almost inaccessible part of Bell Canyon.

Fire crews contained the fire at 2:20 p.m. No cause had been determined. Fire danger is particularly acute this year because of heavy rain in January and little precipitation since then, officials said.