Man told Lake Elsinore residents he started 5-acre brush fire

LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. (KABC) -- A man told Lake Elsinore residents he started a fire that broke out in the hills after intentionally driving his car off the Ortega Highway Wednesday night.

Resident Amelia Roach said her home security camera captured images of the man, who was dressed in a pink shirt and skinny jeans. He had only socks on and appeared to have burns all over his back, according to neighbors.

Roach said the man told her and several neighbors he had caused the fire. He also claimed to have shot his mother and killed his family.

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department identified the person as 24-year-old Costa Mesa resident Nicolas Patrick. Investigators are looking into Patrick's claims.

Deputies did confirm that Patrick's 58-year-old mother, Jaki Patrick, was in the car and found her near the vehicle with non-life-threatening injuries.

Firefighters contained the fire at five acres and knocked it down by 3 p.m. Thursday.