A 41-year-old Woodland woman was taken into custody Wednesday night on suspicion of setting at least four grass fires that flared across the city’s northeast side during a Red Flag Warning. Police records show she was booked into Yolo County Jail on four counts of arson.
Where the fires burned
Crews with the Woodland Fire Department first rushed to a grass fire on the 200 block of North Pioneer Street near Highway 113, then battled at least three additional fires north of East Kentucky Avenue, halting forward progress on each one. Firefighters contained all reported blazes, and officials said no buildings were damaged and no one was hurt. Those scene details and the booking information were reported by The Sacramento Bee, and the activity unfolded during a Red Flag Warning for the Sacramento Valley issued by the National Weather Service.
Arrest and investigation
Investigators reviewed surveillance footage and later spotted someone matching the suspect description near Churchill Downs Avenue and Santa Anita Drive. Officers said the woman briefly tried to run before they arrested her. CBS Sacramento reported that police identified her as 41-year-old Amy Dorsey and noted it remains unclear which of the individual fires she is accused of starting. Police say the investigation is ongoing.
Weather made the fires especially dangerous
The National Weather Service had a Red Flag Warning in effect from 11 a.m. Wednesday through 5 p.m. Thursday for much of the Sacramento Valley, cautioning that strong north winds, hot temperatures and very dry air could cause fires to spread quickly. In its fire-weather message, the agency said gusts could reach 30–40 mph in spots and daytime humidity could drop into the single digits, conditions that help grass fires move fast. The alert text is available from the National Weather Service.
Legal consequences
Police logs show four arson counts linked to the arrest. If prosecutors file charges and there is a conviction under California Penal Code 451, the law treats willful arson as a felony, with penalties that depend on what burned and what damage resulted. Penal Code 451 outlines potential state prison sentences ranging from 16 months to nine years, depending on whether the offense involved property, structures or great bodily injury. The statute text is available from California Legislative Information.
How to help
Authorities are asking anyone with information about the fires or the arrest to contact the Fire Department’s investigation team at (530) 661-5857 or the Woodland Police Department at (530) 661-7800. The tip line was published by The Sacramento Bee, and the Woodland Police Department’s contact page is available on the city website.
