By Rosalio Ahumada
Merced Sun-Star (Merced, Calif.)
NEVADA COUNTY, Calif. — Authorities arrested a Nevada County man on suspicion of arson after he was seen Monday night fleeing the area of a series of roadside fires, Cal Fire officials said.
The 43-year-old Penn Valley man was arrested on suspicion of five counts of arson and was booked at the Nevada County Jail, where he was being held until his arraignment, the Cal Fire Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit announced Tuesday in a news release. Cal Fire officials did not release the arrested man’s name.
Five roadside fires were intentionally ignited along a 2.5-mile stretch of the road in the foothill community of Penn Valley. The first fire was reported about 9:40 p.m. Monday, followed by the subsequent roadside fires, Cal Fire said.
Investigators were looking for witnesses who on Monday night were in the area from Englebright Dam to Lake Wildwood in Penn Valley.
Multiple local firefighting agencies helped Cal Fire firefighters contain and extinguish the roadside fires. Cal Fire officials did not indicate in the news release along which road the five fires were started or the size of the fires.
Late Monday, a Cal Fire law enforcement officer, assisted by the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, arrested the arson suspect. Cal Fire officials said the investigation into the roadside fires was still ongoing.
Investigators asked anyone with information or who on Monday night was in the area from Englebright Dam to Lake Wildwood in Penn Valley to call Cal Fire Investigations at 530-889-0111 ext. 1022.
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