James Hibbard (Reporter)

Here are the conditions. Be at Patriot Square Park, downtown Phoenix, 11 a.m. in two days. No tape recorders, no photographers. Come alone, sit anywhere, and read a copy of the Burn Baby Burns story. and then we'll see what happens.

Here are the conditions. Be at Patriot Square Park, downtown Phoenix, 11 a.m. in two days. No tape recorders, no photographers. Come alone, sit anywhere, and read a copy of the Burn Baby Burns story. and then we'll see what happens.

There are cops all over. There are media news trucks parked along the street.

There are cops all over. There are media news trucks parked along the street.

Hermey thought that if he did show up, that the cops would swoop in and arrest us both. James is sitting on a park bench.

Hermey thought that if he did show up, that the cops would swoop in and arrest us both. James is sitting on a park bench.

Burn, baby, burn. It's not like I showed up packing a weapon or anything crazy. I just went there, opened the copy of the paper like he asked, and waited. Are you scared? I was more excited than nervous. I was bummed I wouldn't have a tape recorder because I'd have to be writing in longhand and scribbling all the answers. But James knows exactly what he wants to find out.

Burn, baby, burn. It's not like I showed up packing a weapon or anything crazy. I just went there, opened the copy of the paper like he asked, and waited. Are you scared? I was more excited than nervous. I was bummed I wouldn't have a tape recorder because I'd have to be writing in longhand and scribbling all the answers. But James knows exactly what he wants to find out.

How he was getting away with this and why he was doing this.

How he was getting away with this and why he was doing this.

Who is this guy?

Who is this guy?

No, no. I mean, now that you're mentioning it, they probably should have instead of shoving their youngest reporter out into the middle of a park to meet with an arsonist.

No, no. I mean, now that you're mentioning it, they probably should have instead of shoving their youngest reporter out into the middle of a park to meet with an arsonist.

There was definitely that heightened feeling and I was also skeptical that he'd actually show up. All of a sudden, this guy comes up and sits next to me. He's got these like big Bono sunglasses on, hat on, track suit on. It's not exactly the outfit you'd expect from an eco-warrior. You picture somebody who's like young and scruffy and looks like they're living out of a van.

There was definitely that heightened feeling and I was also skeptical that he'd actually show up. All of a sudden, this guy comes up and sits next to me. He's got these like big Bono sunglasses on, hat on, track suit on. It's not exactly the outfit you'd expect from an eco-warrior. You picture somebody who's like young and scruffy and looks like they're living out of a van.

This guy is tall, middle-aged, and athletic. He was very energetic, almost wired. And he asked whether I had seen the paper that morning.

This guy is tall, middle-aged, and athletic. He was very energetic, almost wired. And he asked whether I had seen the paper that morning.

Then I remembered that on the phone call, he had teased that a North Phoenix unit of his movement was forming.

Then I remembered that on the phone call, he had teased that a North Phoenix unit of his movement was forming.