By james art 
Police are asking for the public’s help in finding two men they say stole firefighting equipment in Southern California as the region continues to battle high winds and fierce wildfires.
Thieves targeted a U.S. Forest Service fire truck around 3 a.m. Friday in Rancho Cucamonga, a San Bernardino County town about 40 miles east of Los Angeles.
The Forest Service said firefighters, part of a strike team, parked a San Bernardino National Forest engine behind the Hilton Hotel while responding to high winds.
Surveillance cameras captured two men in a red Jeep Wrangler pull up to the engine, get out and then “force open” three locked compartments, taking basic firefighting equipment before driving off, the agency said.
Authorities are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the suspects
The two were last seen driving north from the hotel in a red two-door Jeep Wrangler with a black soft top and tan seats. The Jeep had a California license plate with the first digit 6.
Anyone with information is asked to contact USFS Law Enforcement Officer Tyler Smith by email at [email protected] or contact the Federal Interagency Communications Center at 909-383-5653.
New wildfires break out in Southern California
As strong Santa Ana winds continue to rage across Southern California, new wildfires broke out early Tuesday in San Diego County. The fires prompted evacuation orders, school closures and power outages as Los Angeles County still grappled with stronger winds and relentlessly dry conditions.
Three small brush fires were reported overnight in northern San Diego County, including the Lilac Fire, which spread to 85 acres, according to CalFire. Officials said the fire, at least 35 percent contained by 5 p.m. local time, damaged two buildings and displaced 86 people.
The Pala Fire, which burned 17 acres north of the town of Pala Mesa, was 100 percent contained by Tuesday evening and evacuation orders have since been lifted. Meanwhile, the Riverview fire burned just 1 acre of land before firefighters had it under control.
Although the cause of the three wildfires remains under investigation, they come after hurricane-force winds blew through Southern California overnight, according to the National Weather Service. The agency reported wind gusts of 102 mph in the San Diego Mountains around 10 p.m. Monday.
Contributed by Christopher Kahn
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Officials search for 2 men who stole firefighting equipment amid fires