Tools, hoselines and other AFD equipment was contaminated by chemicals, containers of human waste and other bio hazards in Uber's structure in Manila encampment

Arcata Fire Battalion Chief Sean Campbell  was the second People's witness to testify in Anthony Domenico's jury trial.

In his morning testimony, Battalion Chief Campbell said that the point of origin of the fire and the cause of fire was undetermined because three AFD firefighters and three other firefighters from other departments assisting AFD were sent to the hospital. with "injuries."


The firefighters were responding to the structure fire in the Manila homeless encampment. The structure that was destroyed that day was Thomas Uber's  home.
Battalion Chief Campbell said that the fire could not be "explored fully" because he could not ask firefighters to go into the structure due to biohazards."The risk to personnel was too great."

Three firefighters out with injuries was half of AFD's staffing for the day. While the firefighters were cleared to return to duty, the risk of any exposure may not be known for a while. Due to HIPPA, Battalion Chief Campbell would not know if anyone had been exposed.

Tools, hoselines and other AFD equipment was contaminated by chemicals, containers of human waste and other bio hazards found in Uber's structure.

 Battalion Chief Campbell was suspicious of the fire and use of accelerant from the beginning "due to the timeline; because of how rapidly the fire grew and the damage to the structure."

The fire had spread "beyond just the structure," said Battalion Chief Campbell.

In his afternoon testimony, Battalion Chief Campbell spoke about his specific training and developing a profile of an arsonist. He mentioned six general areas/motives to look for and mentioned five: Revenge or spite; Vandalism; Insurance Fraud (a common one they encounter); Excitment or Arousal and Covering a Crime Scene.

The Arcata Fire Department found Domenico in a tent with two dogs when they arrived on the scene. Deputy District Attorney Trent Timm showed and had Battalion Chief Campbell identify a photo near Domenico's tent.

The photo was of a pit Domenico was "digging to make a latrine," said Battalion Chief Campbell. Two empty gas cans were found near that pit that were "cause of concern."

Based on his training and experience, Battalion Chief Campbell said that the fire was not accidental and an accelerant was most likely used. "My response was four minutes. That structure was fully involved by the time I got there. This was from the first time I saw a light grey thick smoke" to when he arrived on the scene."

Battalion Chief Campbell was unaware that Domenico had made a confession at the time he was at the scene investigating the fire.

Deputy DA Timm posed a hypothetical to Battalion Chief Campbell about a confession, an assault and gas cans being found near the person who confessed.

"All stars align to arson," responded Battalion Chief Campbell.

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