A man charged with sparking the Alexander Mountain Fire in Larimer County, Colorado, has been thrust into the spotlight of criminal proceedings after authorities accused him of also impersonating law enforcement and fire officials. Jason Alexander Hobby, 49, from Loveland, was arrested on charges including first-degree arson and several counts of impersonating a public servant, as reported by Denver7. The flames, as once the blaze commenced, quickly crossed the line from isolated incident to wider menace, besieging communities and the canvass of nature alike.

In the announcement made by the Larimer County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Forest Service during a Wednesday press conference, it was revealed that Hobby, who was earlier employed at Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch, became a suspect following detailed police work. By investigating the point of origin atop Alexander Mountain, "We knew where the point of origin was, so we went up there to view and collect and find evidence with the Forest Service, and several arson investigators," said Larimer County Sheriff John Feyen, as obtained by CBS News. Hobby's bond was set at $450,000 cash/surety following his arrest on September 10th.

As Hobby faces the judiciary, Colorado grapples with the aftermath of multiple fires. The Stone Canyon fire claimed a life, the Lake Shore fire near Gross Reservoir destroyed two homes, and the Quarry fire forced evacuations, painting the wider picture of destruction in the region. Amid these conflagrations, one man from Boulder County remains missing after the Stone Canyon fire razed his home. According to The Denver Post, finding it very hard to identify human remains, the coroner, along with forensic experts, is engaged in an intricate process to expedite identification and a name has not been released pending confirmation of the deceased's identity.