Santa Rosa authorities investigating multiple ‘suspicious’ grass fires

Authorities said 13 small “suspicious” grass fires that sparked across southwest Santa Rosa on Saturday night were likely linked.

Santa Rosa firefighters responded to a call just before midnight about the first set of fires, found to be burning in the grass next to the railroad tracks between Hearn Avenue and Barham Avenue. While crews were extinguishing those fires, additional fires were discovered about a mile north near North Dutton Avenue and West Third Street, and along the Santa Rosa Creek Trail from North Dutton Avenue to Fulton Road two miles west, the fire department said.

In all, firefighters extinguished up to 13 small grass fires within two hours, with the largest burning about 1/4 acre of brush.

“They were all relatively small,” Santa Rosa Assistant Fire Marshal Ian Hardage said.

No structures were damaged, and no injuries were reported.

Hardage said the fires were likely linked. The time frame was relatively close, there were no electrical or gas outlets, and there was a progression to the path of the fires, he said.

The investigation is ongoing, but Hardage said it appeared the person used a butane lighter and traveled from location to location on a bicycle.

The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office helicopter Henry 1 was in the air Saturday night, helping 41 firefighters navigate from one grass fire to the next.

A witness near the Santa Rosa Creek Trail said in a Facebook post he woke up around midnight to the smell of smoke. Neighbors between Dutton Avenue and Stony Point Road knocked on doors and brought buckets of water to help put out the fire, he said.

Online commenters expressed grief and anxiety over the chain of fires on Saturday night.

“Have people not suffered enough from fire here...” one commenter said.

The community has “a right to be concerned,” especially after the devastating October wildfires, Hardage said.

“People along the trails during fire season should keep an eye out if they see anything out of the ordinary,” Hardage said.

The start of fire season changes from year to year, but city officials declared its start in mid-May.

Since the October wildfires, Hardage said fire response has changed in some ways. Area agencies are a little quicker to activate additional resources from other jurisdictions, he said.

“We’re prepared in case it something bigger happens,” Hardage said.

Graton fires earlier this month had a similar pattern and the Santa Rosa Fire Department is investigating possible connections.

You can reach Staff Writer Susan Minichiello at 707-521-5216 or susan.minichiello@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @susanmini. You can reach Staff Writer Christi Warren at 707-521-5205 or christi.warren@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @SeaWarren.