San José Fire Department Chief William McDonald departing, area arsonist arrested

Fire Chief William McDonald is planning to move to Las Vegas

San Jose’s Fire Department is expected to lose its top chief William McDonald to Las Vegas this month. Labor battles with the City of San Jose have created a budget crisis causing the closure of several fire houses. This has blocked local leaders from hiring new recruits needed to help replenish the retiring work force. With fewer workers, a higher demand on emergency staff has created shifts in wait times for emergency units to respond. When a fire happens, it just takes seconds for a fire to burn out of control.

56-year-old Robert Wayne Dail is being charged with Felony Arson under PC 451(d) for the a July 10, 2013 incident when a witness reported seeing a man behind a local restaurant/bar near Alamaden Expressway and Cherry Avenue in San Jose start an arson fire. When emergency units responded to the scene of the possible arson incident, SJPD Officers patrolled the area and stopped several people just minutes after the blaze, but yielding little information to SJPD officers and fire officials investigating, while firefighters were able to contain the incident.

The possible view right before the fire started. A witness reported seeing Dail on the scene.

Surveillance video from the scene captured the image of a man reaching over the side of the bin and then seconds later a puff of smoke and flames began to fill the bin. The SJPD reported that the suspect used an “open flame” device in order to ignite recyclables. San Jose’s Fire Department Engine 13 had responded to extinguish the remaining fire.

The next day, on July 11, a call came in to the San Jose 9-1-1 call center reporting that a suspect sought in an arson fire was in the area. Robert Dail was located by responding SJPD officers and booked into the Santa Clara Main Jail. The property manager at the time of the incident had been driving through the area when he saw the suspect stand up from behind the dumpster. He was able to identify Dail as the suspect he had seen reach inside the bin as he drove toward him. Dail had quickly walked away as smoke and flames began to fill the recycling bin.

Units from SJFD station 13 responded to the scene

The property manager quickly alerted several employees working in the restaurant. They quickly came to help put out the fire with an extinguisher until SJFD firefighters were able to arrive on the scene and fully extinguish the flames.

Dail is a known transient in the area, and has often been seen looking for cans. Dial denied lighting the fire and also stated to investigators that he didn’t see anyone else by the dumpster when he was in the area. Dail said he “only threw paper trash in the dumpster, and had thrown paper in the trash at least once a day.” But the staff at the restaurant had often seen Dail walk by the garbage can, up to 10 times a day.

Dail was booked into the Santa Clara Main Jail on a 25K warrant. The next plea hearing is expected to be held on August 8, 2013 at 9:00 am in Dept. 35.

Photos courtesy San Jose Fire Department, and by Amy Nilson