(KGTV) — The Temecula man accused of setting the massive Idyllwild fire this week has been charged with starting eight other fires as well.
Brandon N. McGlover, 32, pleaded not guilty to 15 felony counts related to nine separate fires, according to the Riverside County District Attorney's Office. The charges include one count of aggravated arson, five counts of arson of an inhabited structure, and nine counts of arson of forest or wildland.
The nine fires were set in the Idyllwild, Anza, and Sage area on Wednesday, according to the DA's Office.
RELATED: Idyllwild fire updates
If convicted, McGlover faces life in prison. His bail was increased to $3.5 million, after he was originally held on $1 million. He's due to return to court on Sept. 24.
The Cranston Fire has exploded to more than 11,000 acres since it began Wednesday and was 3 percent contained as of Friday morning.
Thousands of residents have been forced to evacuate their homes in areas including Idyllwild, Mountain Center, Apple Canyon, Lake Hemet, and Mt. San Jacinto State Park.
Soon after the fire began, authorities detained McGlover for questioning. Police could be seen photographing canisters, reportedly of accelerants, on the hood of a vehicle as they detained McGlover.
#CranstonFire estimated fire perimeter from last nights infrared flight pic.twitter.com/o2xQPoMZ6v
— San Bernardino National Forest (@SanBernardinoNF) July 27, 2018
