HARVARD, CA. (Pain In The Pass) >> A 61-year-old man from Barstow has been arrested and charged with intentionally setting a brush fire in Harvard a small, unincorporated community located in San Bernardino County, near Newberry Springs on Sunday afternoon.
The blaze, named the Tami Fire consumed 38 acres, which San Bernardino County Fire reported at 10:52am April 12, 2026, in the area of Westridge Street and Tami Avenue. The small community called Harvard, which lies roughly 10 miles east of Yermo and 22 miles east of Barstow.
When authorities arrived at the scene, they were contacted by a witness who reported seeing a possible suspect igniting the fire, later identified as Raymond Mann.
Due to the gusty winds in the area, the fire rapidly spread across several acres across the desert.
The 61-year-old Barstow resident was observed several minutes later standing outside of a woman’s residence and yelling. According to San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, she discovered a bag of her laundry sitting by her front door had been set on fire, and a separate patch of her lawn was also burned.
Mann was later tracked down to a nearby residence, where he was found to be in possession of a lighter.
He was arrested on charges of arson causing fire to a structure and the brush fire, he was taken to the High Desert Detention Center. Bail was set at $70,000 pending an initial court appearance.
The fire he started burned 38 acres, authorities said it was updated from 15 acres.
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