A small fire was set along Los Coches Road in Lakeside just before 8 a.m. Thursday.
Fire crews spotted a possible suspect when they arrived at the scene, an open field of about 50 acres right in between two housing tracks along Business 8 which is just north of Interstate 8.
Crews said the fire burned about a quarter of an acre and was quickly extinguished.
"With the current conditions and the weather forecast for today, it could have been worse," said Battalion Chief Ron Laff with Lakeside Fire District.
The person of interest arrested about a mile from the scene of the fire.
Emergency crews were called and the person of interest was transported from the scene in an ambulance.
The person was reportedly having trouble breathing.
No homes were threatened. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Units from San Miguel Fire District, CAL Fire, City of El Cajon Fire Department joined Lakeside firefighters on the call.
Local
"Any days that we're working under these conditions with the offshore flow, we send enough resources to hopefully catch it smaller than to let it get under control," Laff said.
On Tuesday, San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders joined local fire authorities in a warning to residents. Sanders described conditions in the county as "explosive" and reminded residents to be vigilant to prevent brush fires.
