An explosive situation was defused in San Rafael when Cary Newman, a 54-year-old Novato resident, got busted by cops for setting off homemade fireworks leading to a vegetation blaze Tuesday night, local police report. Newman was cuffed after his DIY pyrotechnics sparked a fire behind an apartment complex in Terra Linda, according to the San Rafael Police Department's X account.
MAN ARRESTED FOR SETTING OFF FIREWORKS THAT CAUSED FIRE
— San Rafael Police Department (@SanRafaelPolice) May 8, 2024
San Rafael, CA – Cary Newman, a 54-year-old Novato resident, was arrested by San Rafael Police after he set off homemade fireworks that caused a small vegetation fire in Terra Linda. SRFD was able to extinguish the fire,… pic.twitter.com/Dq85jVak6C
Getting wind of an explosion followed by flames around 6:02 p.m., the authorities rushed to Cresta Way only to find the small but dangerous fire menacing nearby homes. Witnesses identified Newman as the man playing with fire just as the vegetation caught aflame. Facing several charges, Newman didn't deny his role in the fiery escapade, admitting to the law that some extra fireworks were stashed in his car.
The San Rafael Fire Department swiftly quenched the fire, preventing any injuries or significant damage. After the threat simmered down, evacuated residents got the all-clear to return. Newman, meanwhile, found himself booked at the Marin County Jail for the illegal fireworks gig, charged with manufacturing and possessing fireworks and setting the fire.
An assist from the UC Berkeley Bomb Squad ensured Newman's remaining fireworks and materials were safely disposed of. It turns out fireworks are no joke in Marin County and San Rafael, where they’re banned outright. The authorities remind the public of the potential consequences, both legal and physical, tied to these prohibited light shows. Tips on additional fireworks violations can be dropped to the San Rafael Police via their online tip line.
