Investigators have made an arrest in connection with the 2003 Old Fire charging convicted felon Ricky Lee Fowler with arson that resulted in the deaths of five men.

The five victims died of heart attacks. The victims, all men died either the day of the blaze of shortly after. Physical and emotional stress combined with breathing difficulties caused by smoke exacerbated pre existing conditions in most of the victims.

Fowler is currently imprisoned on a burglary conviction and if found guilty may find his way to death row where Esperanza fire arsonist/murderer Raymond Lee Oyler resides.  Oyler was found guilty earlier this year for murder in the deaths of five federal firefighters during the 2006 Esperanza fire.
Story at L.A. Times.

The 2003 Old Fire consumed 91,280 acres in San Bernardino County and ranks as the 12th largest blaze in modern California history.