Reward doubled for tips about 13 Santa Rosa grass fires

A reward offered to help police arrest and convict a suspect in 13 grass fires in Santa Rosa on June 16 has doubled to $5,000, police said.

Santa Rosa firefighters responded to a call shortly before midnight about fires burning in the grass next to the railroad tracks between Hearn and Barham avenues. Meanwhile, more fires were found 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 2 miles west, the fire department said.

No structures were damaged, and no injures were reported. It appeared someone may have sparked the fires with a lighter as they moved along the trail, Assistant Fire Marshal Ian Hardage said this week.

The reward is offered by the Sonoma County Alliance’s Take Back Our Community Program. An anonymous local resident helped increase the amount, police said in a news release.

You can reach Staff Writer Hannah Beausang at 707-521-5214 or hannah.beausang@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @hannahbeausang.