Firefighters in Saratoga rushed to Prospect Road this past Friday after reports that a man was intentionally setting several small fires in the area, threatening two nearby homes before the flames were brought under control. No one was hurt, but the suspect fled the scene and remains unidentified.
According to a Santa Clara County Fire Department post, crews responding to the reports on October 16 arrived to find brush, property fencing and even a power pole on fire. The fires threatened the two nearby homes but were contained and extinguished before reaching them, the department said, and there were no reported injuries.
Witnesses Describe Suspect Fleeing the Scene
Witnesses told fire officials they saw a suspect intentionally igniting vegetation before taking off, per the same post. The department described the man as being in his 30s to 50s, roughly 5 feet 10 inches tall, with white hair. Investigators are now looking into the incidents, though no further details on a possible motive have been released.
The suspect had not been located as of the post. The department is urging anyone who spots suspicious behavior, an unauthorized fire, or someone matching the suspect's description to contact law enforcement, and it advises calling 911 immediately for any active fire or emergency.
How to Report Tips or Suspicious Activity
Residents who want to report fire-related criminal activity without calling 911 can use the fire department's online tip form, according to sccfd.org. The department says any contact information submitted through the form will remain confidential, though a fire investigator may follow up with tipsters who provide details.
For now, the case remains open, and the man described by witnesses has not been located. Saratoga residents near Prospect Road are being asked to stay alert and report anything unusual as the investigation continues.
