Yesterday, Novato Police Department officers were dispatched to the vicinity of the Novato Skatepark due to a reported fire. On arrival, they found a homeless encampment ablaze; the emergency was swiftly managed by the Novato Fire Protection District, with no injuries reported, as relayed in a social media post from the Novato Police Department.
During the intervention, 60-year-old Jamee Newkirk, associated with the encampment, remained cooperative on site. Once the officers and a Fire Mitigation Ranger conducted an investigation, she was booked into the Marin County Jail after the fact. The fire, which also began threatening neighboring vegetation, was prevented from causing further destruction by the timely action of fire crews.
The Novato Police have issued a reminder about the hazards of open flames under unsafe conditions, noting the potential losses involving life, property, and environmental integrity.
