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Brandon Glasgo, a 30-year-old poker dealer, was arrested Monday morning on suspicion of arson after allegedly starting a wildfire that burned 131 acres near San Diego, California. The San Diego Police Department confirmed his arrest in connection with the so-called Sorrento fire.
Glasgo works as a poker dealer at Jamul Casino Resort, a well-known tribal casino in Southern California. Authorities have not revealed what may have caused the fire and have declined to provide further comment ahead of his scheduled arraignment on Wednesday.
The fire broke out around 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 16, in the area between Sorrento Valley Boulevard and Carmel Mountain Road. It spread rapidly through the Peñasquitos Creek area, threatening homes and triggering evacuation orders.
San Diego Fire-Rescue Deputy Chief Eddy told ABC10 that ground crews initially struggled to access the fire because it was burning along a hiking trail. Five fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters were deployed, helping bring the blaze under control within about an hour.
Although most evacuation warnings were lifted by Sunday evening, the fire continued burning overnight and was still active by Monday morning, according to fire officials. Under California law, arson involving forestland can carry a maximum sentence of six years, with harsher penalties possible depending on the circumstances.
The incident recalls the January 2025 wildfires that affected members of the poker community, including James Woods, who lost his Pacific Palisades home, and Jennifer Tilly, who evacuated the Commerce Casino with partner Phil Laak. The Sorrento fire, however, was far smaller in scale and was contained before causing comparable destruction.
