Suspect In Custody For Allegedly Setting Multiple Fires Today In Martinez

A suspect was taken into custody for allegedly setting fires that burned four separate properties in Martinez this afternoon, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District officials said.

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Crews first received a report at 12:48 p.m. of a fire burning at 1595 Ashwood Drive and then another at 1577 and 1579 Ashwood Drive, fire officials said.

While en route to the scene, Martinez police then notified the fire district of another fire located at 1422 Linton Terrace, Fire Inspector Lisa Martinez said.

[Previous: Updated With Photos: Crews Responding To 3-Alarm Fire In Martinez.]

Firefighters eventually got all of the fires under control by 2:07 p.m., a fire dispatcher said.

Martinez said police took a suspect into custody on suspicion of arson but fire and police officials were not immediately releasing more information about the suspect.

One neighbor, Allan Brown, said he saw police use a Taser stun gun to detain a man after a foot pursuit near the scene of the fire.

Mike Kindle, who was working to move a woman out of a nearby unit, said earlier in the day he saw a man arguing with law enforcement officials, then later saw smoke coming from the unit.

The fires caused at least $300,000 in damage at the four addresses, Martinez said. She said no one was injured in the fire and that arson investigators remained at the scene this afternoon.

Sharon Donahoe said she has lived in the neighborhood for 27 years and has never seen anything like today’s scene.

“I saw the first fire engine go up the hill, then counted up to four more fire engines and I said to myself ‘There’s something wrong here,’” Donahoe said.

--BCN

--Fire images courtesy of CCCFire and Jason Parks.

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