17 News @ Sunrise 07/09/2024

Some of today's top storiesOur first responders worked tirelessly over the long Fourth of July holiday, balancing extreme heat and an uptick in the use of illegal fireworks. Firefighters responded to dozens of fires - with some believed to have been started by fireworks. According to Kern County firefighters, 4,126 illegal fireworks were reported, with 86% of them being from Bakersfield. The Bakersfield Fire Department saw 555 complaints and seized 5000 Pounds of fireworks on the Fourth of July leading to six felony arrests. The American Red Cross organization has helped nearly 30 people affected by home fires during the holiday. KCFD encourages residents to download the Genasys Protect app to remain alerted to emergencies nearby. A person is under arrest this morning on suspicion of starting a fire in southeast Bakersfield.    The fire started just before two p.m. yesterday in the 25-hundred block of south union avenue.    Investigators say the fire began in vegetation, but spread to a nearby structure.    Nearly two dozen firefighters from the Bakersfield and Kern County Fire Departments knocked the fire down in about 15 minutes.    BFD believes it was started by homeless activity.    The man was arrested on suspicion of arson.We are learning more about the man taken into custody after *two* high-speed chases and an officer-involved shooting in Bakersfield earlier this month.    Francisco Monge, who is facing multiple charges, in connection to the incident, agreed to a jailhouse interview with 17News over the weekend.     We wanted to know about the circumstances surrounding his run-in with police, but also learned about his self-confessed struggles with satanism and schizophrenia.    17's Connor Dore spoke with Monge and has more.