RIVERSIDE, Calif.  A California man was sentenced to death on Friday for setting a hillside inferno in 2006 that killed five United States Forest Service firefighters. The penalty had been recommended by the jury that convicted the man, Raymond L. Oyler, 38, of murder and arson in March.

In imposing the sentence, Judge W. Charles Morgan of Superior Court in Riverside County said Mr. Oyler had “set on a mission  why? no one knows  to create havoc in this county by setting fires of his own design, for his own purpose.”

Judge Morgan added, “He knew young men and young women would put their lives on the line to protect property and people.”

Mr. Oyler remained silent and stared straight ahead as the judge announced the sentence. Under California law, the sentence will be automatically appealed, said Mr. Oyler’s lawyer, Mark McDonald.