Man found guilty of arson in 2025 fire that prompted evacuations in Bonsall

A 49-year-old man accused of setting two fires along Interstate 15 last year, one of which forced several hundred people to flee their Bonsall-area homes in the middle of the night, was found guilty Tuesday.

Following about three days of testimony, it took a Vista Superior Court jury less than a day to convict Ruben Vasquez of arson related to the two fires that erupted early Jan. 21, 2025. At the time, fire danger was so high that the region — enduring Santa Ana winds and bone-dry conditions — was under a red-flag warning.

The first blaze, dubbed the Pala fire, was reported shortly after 12:15 a.m. west of I-15 and north of state Route 76. The larger Lilac fire, which started about three miles to the south, was reported about 20 minutes later. As the fires spread, roughly 2,900 people — many roused from sleep — were told to evacuate or warned to prepare to flee.

Crews were able to keep the Pala fire to 16 acres. The Lilac fire grew to 80 acres and damaged two structures. Cal Fire investigators determined both fires were arson and arrested Vasquez less than six weeks later.

During closing arguments Monday, Deputy District Attorney Daniel Gochnour said GPS data placed Vasquez's phone at the site of both fires around the time each was reported.

Gochnour said Vasquez's phone was about 90 feet from the starting point of the first fire, the Pala fire, and that it had been stationary for about two and a half minutes before a passerby called 911 to report seeing a fire along the freeway. Court filings indicate the caller also reported seeing a dark sedan parked so close to the flames she feared the vehicle could catch fire

Court filings also indicate a truck driver called 911 about 20 minutes later to report another fire a few miles to the south, also along I-15 but south of SR-76. The driver provided the license plate of a car he'd seen stopped alongside the road near the fire, which later grew to be the Lilac fire. That tip helped lead investigators to Vasquez, a ride-share driver.

Vasquez's phone was near the starting point of the Lilac fire for eight minutes before the fire was reported, according to Gochnour.

During her closing arguments, Vasquez's defense attorney, Julia Jara, characterized the investigation as incomplete. Jara argued that once investigators had the license plate number supplied by the truck driver, investigators "went with it" and worked to confirm the theory that Vasquez started the fire. "They confirmed that bias, and expect you to do the same," she told the jury.

Vasquez is due back in court Aug. 4 for sentencing. He faces up to nine years and four months in custody.