Santa Clarita man, 70, charged with federal arson in Bouquet Fire; prosecutors say he tossed a cigarette onto fireworks

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Headline graphic: Charged with arson, over a file photo of Forest Service firefighters silhouetted against flames

Cover photo: File photo (Forest Service firefighters at the 2025 Eaton Fire; not the Bouquet Fire) by Pacific Southwest Forest Service, USDA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; cropped, darkened and text added by The Southbound 105.

By The Southbound 105 | Oct. 10, 2026

SANTA CLARITA — A 70-year-old Santa Clarita man has been charged with federal arson over the Bouquet Fire, which burned about 1,048 acres of the Angeles National Forest last weekend. Prosecutors allege he admitted flicking a cigarette from his porch onto fireworks.

Rodney Ameile Saba was charged Friday, Oct. 9, in a federal criminal complaint with arson involving federal property, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced. He is expected to make an initial appearance in federal court in downtown Los Angeles.

What prosecutors say happened

According to the complaint, the fire started at about 2:13 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3, behind Saba's home on Bouquet Canyon Road northeast of Santa Clarita.

Moments before, Saba allegedly warned a neighbor to expect a loud noise similar to a shotgun blast. Witnesses then heard a powerful explosion, followed by Saba yelling for help as flames spread rapidly up the hillside, prosecutors said.

Investigators allege that Saba admitted throwing a cigarette from his porch onto fireworks, causing them to explode and ignite the blaze. Authorities later recovered a lighter, cigarettes, shotgun ammunition and an aerial mortar firework from his cabin, according to the complaint.

U.S. Forest Service investigators concluded the fire was "probably caused by fireworks" after ruling out lightning, campfires, debris burning and other possible causes, prosecutors said. The Forest Service investigated with help from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Arson Explosives Detail.

The fire

The fire spread fast through dry brush in the canyon that Saturday afternoon, threatening homes and power lines. Mandatory evacuation orders went out for several zones, Bouquet Canyon Road was closed between Spunky Canyon Road and Vasquez Canyon Road, and an evacuation shelter opened at the Castaic Sports Complex, NBC Los Angeles reported.

The blaze grew to roughly 1,048 acres, nearly all of it federal land in the Angeles National Forest. All evacuation orders had been lifted by Friday, FOX 11 reported. The charging announcements did not mention any injuries.

State charges, too

Saba was arrested by local authorities the day of the fire. On Tuesday, Oct. 6, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office charged him with three felonies: arson of a structure or forest, possession of a destructive device at a private residence, and possession of ammunition by a person prohibited from having it, The Signal reported. He pleaded not guilty to those charges and remains in custody in lieu of more than $1.1 million bail. He is due back in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Nov. 2.

The federal complaint says Saba has multiple prior felony convictions, including mayhem, vandalism, possession of a controlled substance, criminal threats, manufacturing or possessing a dangerous weapon and possession of a stolen vehicle.

If convicted of the federal arson charge, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

A criminal complaint contains allegations only. Saba is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

Fireworks and fire season

Fireworks are illegal in most of Los Angeles County, including all unincorporated areas, and fire officials warn that a single spark in dry brush can start a wildfire that spreads in minutes. Santa Clarita Valley residents can sign up for emergency alerts through Alert LA County and should keep a go-bag ready while fire season lasts.

No court date for the federal case had been announced as of Saturday.

Sources

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