Suspect arrested for 155 acre Joshua Tree wildfire

UPDATE: San Bernardino County Sheriffs Deputies arrested a suspect Michael Smith, 43, of Joshua Tree Monday evening at his home and charged him with Unlawfully Causing a Fire.

He was transported to the Morongo Basin Jail where he was being held on $25,000 bail.

The Sheriffs Department said approximately 155 acres of wildlife habitat restoration area belonging to the Mojave Desert Land Trust was burned in the fire, which took 6 hours to extinguish.

San Bernardino County firefighters said the vegetation fire grew from 5-6 acres at 12:22 p.m. Monday to 50-70 acres by 12:46 p.m.

The fire was burning near the area of La Contenta & Twentynine Palms Highway in Joshua Tree.

As of 2:20 p.m., the fire had grown to an estimated 90-100 acres. Firefighters said forward progress had been slowed.

Highway 62 was closed in both directions from Yucca Mesa Road to Sunny Vista Road due to the fire.