Transient Accused In Santa Rosa Fire, Extortion Case: Police

SANTA ROSA, CA — A woman was arrested in connection with a series of suspicious incidents Sunday in northwest Santa Rosa, including a brush fire that briefly burned near the Fountaingrove neighborhood affected by the 2017 Tubbs Fire, according to the Santa Rosa police and fire departments.

At 11:10 a.m., the Santa Rosa Fire Department got multiple reports there was a vegetation fire burning in the area of Hopper Avenue and U.S. Highway 101. Firefighters were on scene within 5 minutes and found flames burning in the 3600 block of Old Redwood Highway, on the east side of the road, Santa Rosa Fire Department Battalion Chief Matthew Gloeckner said.

"The fire was burning towards Round Barn Circle and was highly visible from Highway 101 and the north west area of Santa Rosa," Gloeckner said.

Crews contained the fire within 20 minutes and held it to just under an acre in size.

"There were structures in the vicinity of the fire, but none were threatened," Gloeckner said. "Grass that had been mowed in accordance with Santa Rosa Fire Department weed abatement guidelines helped slow the fire while fire crews extinguished it."

Twenty-two fire personnel — five engine crews and a water tender crew — responded to the blaze, some of whom stayed on scene for two hours mopping up hot spots.

A fire investigator determined the blaze started at a small homeless encampment on the hillside, to the east of Old Redwood Highway.

"The Santa Rosa Police Department detained a homeless female subject who was seen leaving the area where the fire began," Gloeckner said.

According to Santa Rosa police, as the fire was being investigated, another officer was investigating a report of grand theft and extortion.

Police soon suspected the woman, identified as Kathryn Nichols, a 42-year- old transient from Kansas, was likely responsible not only for setting the fire but for stealing a cell phone and a passport earlier Sunday from a car parked in the 2600 block of Mendocino Avenue.

The victims in the theft told police that when they called their cell phone, the person who answered demanded a large sum of money in exchange for their belongings, Santa Rosa police Sgt. Patricia Seffens said.

"The victims and suspect then negotiated until a lower sum of money was agreed upon," Seffens said.

Officers learned Nichols was arrested by another agency July 18 on suspicion of vehicle theft, and was released from custody just a few hours prior to the fire and the incident involving the stolen cell phone, Seffens said.

Nichols was booked into Sonoma County jail on suspicion of attempted extortion, grant theft, arson and battery of a peace officer.

"A bail enhancement of $100,000 was issued by a judge," Seffens said.

Jail records showed Nichols remained in custody Monday afternoon and was due in court Tuesday.