Poker dealer arrested for allegedly starting California wildfires

Brandon Glasgo, a 30-year-old poker dealer, has been arrested for allegedly starting a 131-acre wildfire in San Diego. The fire threatened homes and forced evacuations; if convicted of arson, he could face more than six years in prison.

A smoking poker dealer has been arrested for allegedly starting a 131-acre wildfire that threatened homes and led to evacuations in parts of San Diego, California.

Brandon Glasgo, 30, was arrested Monday morning in connection with the Sorrento fire, which started Sunday afternoon and quickly spread throughout the Peñasquitos Creek area, according to the San Diego Police Department.

Glasgo, a former poker dealer at the popular Jamul Casino Resort in Southern California, is accused of arson. Police have not yet revealed what they believe to be the cause of the fire and have declined to comment further. He is expected to appear in court on Wednesday.

The fire was first reported at around 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 16, somewhere between Sorrento Valley Boulevard and Carmel Mountain Road.

A completely different high-risk situation

The fire quickly burned 131 acres of land, an area roughly equivalent to 100 football fields, threatened nearby homes, and prompted emergency alarms and evacuation orders. Firefighters battled the blaze to bring it under control.

According to the New York Post, the deputy chief of the San Diego Fire and Rescue Department said that rescuers initially had difficulty reaching the scene because the fire was burning along a dedicated hiking trail.

Eddy told ABC10 News, "Please remember, this is a hiking trail, and it's very difficult for our ground troops to access. The aircraft today have been a huge help in stopping the fire from spreading further."

Eddy added that they deployed five fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters to extinguish the fire, and emergency services brought the situation under control in about an hour.

Nevertheless, although most evacuation warnings were lifted Sunday night, the fire continued to burn late into the night and was still burning Monday morning, according to the San Diego Fire and Ambulance Service.

If convicted of arson, Glasgo could face several years in prison. California law states that arson involving the burning of forest land or buildings is punishable by up to six years in prison, with additional penalties possible in certain circumstances.

The poker community is well aware of the threat posed by the Southern California wildfires.

Many prominent figures in the poker world are well aware of the dangers of wildfires. The devastating fires that swept through the region in January 2025 directly impacted several familiar faces in the poker community.

Poker player and actor James Woods lost his home in Pacific Palisades in the fire, while Jennifer Tilly revealed at the time that she and her partner Phil Laak were forced to evacuate the Commerce Casino where they lived.

Fortunately, the Sorrento fire was only a fraction of the size of the Palisades fire that devastated large parts of California. The swift response of local police and fire departments helped prevent the situation from escalating further and brought the fire under control before it caused widespread destruction like the one in January 2025.

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