String of Suspicious Fires in Arcata

Press release provided by Arcata Fire District:

At 10:08 P.M. on Thursday Arcata Fire District responded to a trash can fire located in the 1100 block of 16th Street. Engine 8215 arrived on scene and reported a completely melted trash can with charring on the nearby structure and a person attempting to extinguish the fire. The crew deployed a hose line and finished the extinguishment. After speaking with witnesses, they were directed to a second location where a fire had occurred recently but had not been reported. This location had two melted trash cans. Witnesses stated the previous fire occurred sometime between Monday and Thursday of this week.

At 10:15 P.M. Thursday, units responded to a second fire reported as a vegetation fire near Arcata High School near Foster Avenue. Assistant Chief Justin McDonald arrived first and reported a vegetation fire approximately 30 feet in diameter spreading into nearby trees.
Chief McDonald updated the location of the fire as behind the gymnasium at Arcata High School. Engine 8216 and Engine 8239 responded to the scene. Upon arrival, Engine 8216 deployed a hose line and began fire attack with Engine 8239 assisting. The fire was extinguished within 10 minutes.

On Friday morning at 2:15, Arcata Fire District responded to an unknown type of fire at the Potawot Health Village. When Engine 8216 arrived on scene and reported what appeared to be a pile of garbage on fire in a field with no threat to buildings. The location of the fire was updated to the Potawot Community Garden off of Ribeiro Lane. Upon further investigation, firefighters determined that the object on fire was a plastic portable restroom. The fire crew quickly controlled the fire and extinguished it within minutes of arrival.

All of the fires we responded to last night and this morning are being considered suspicious or intentionally set. If anyone has any information about any of the fires please contact Arcata Fire District at 707-825-2000. We also want to remind our residents to please keep watch around your homes and businesses and to call 9-1-1 if you see a fire or anything suspicious.