A man was placed under arrest in Nevada County late Monday evening after he was suspected of intentionally setting a series of roadside fires in Penn Valley. The 43-year-old local resident is accused of igniting fires over a stretch of 2.5 miles, sparking concern among residents and authorities alike.
According to ABC10, the individual, whose name has not been released, was allegedly seen leaving the scene of multiple fires that had erupted along the side of the road late Monday. The initial fire report came in around 9:40 p.m., at which point CAL FIRE's Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit responded to the emergency alongside local law enforcement agencies.
The quick collaboration between the CAL FIRE Law Enforcement Officer and the Nevada County Sheriff's Office culminated in the arrest of the Penn Valley man. CAL FIRE NEU's Facebook post noted that the arrest took place late Monday night, confirming the inter-agency effort to halt a potentially dangerous situation from escalating further.
The authorities have booked the suspect on suspicion of arson, and he is being held until his arraignment. Investigators continue to piece together the events that led up to the series of fires. Community members who were in the vicinity of Englebright Dam to Lake Wildwood area of Penn Valley Monday night are encouraged to come forward with any information they might have by calling 530-889-0111, extension 1022.
