‘Intentionally set’: Sacramento firefighters, police respond to multiple vegetation fires

Sacramento firefighters and law enforcement officials have responded to multiple small arson fires Thursday evening in the area of Freeport Boulevard and Florin Road.

The number of fires was not clear but Sacramento Fire Department officials said that multiple vegetation fires sparked quickly, and were swiftly doused, in the area that borders the Meadowview, Z’berg Park, South Land Park, Greenhaven and Pocket sections of the city. Radio traffic from authorities indicated officers, working with firefighters and the California Highway Patrol, were searching for a suspect believed to have started the blazes.

“There have been multiple vegetation fires along Freeport Blvd near Florin Rd and Meadowview Rd,” fire officials said in a social media message just after 9 p.m. “These fires have been quickly contained and crews are on scene still mopping up near Florin Rd. These fires are believed to be intentionally set.”

Sacramento police told The Sacramento Bee that officers are in the area “for a report of a subject who may have started a fire.”

“An arson investigator is responding,” the agency said.

At least four fire calls were noted by Sacramento dispatchers beginning at 7:35 p.m. with a grass fire that sparked at Freeport Boulevard and Meadowview Road, the site of two earlier incidents Thursday afternoon.

That was followed by a vegetation fire reported at Freeport Boulevard and Florin Road at 8:37 p.m.

Two more reports of fire — near Florin Road and South Land Park Drive and along Florin Road by northbound Interstate 5 — were reported minutes later.

“We are asking the public to stay vigilant and report suspicious activity,” firefighters said in a subsequent Twitter post. “Call 911 for emergencies or call the arson tip line at (916) 808-8732 if you have information you believe would be helpful to investigators.”

Sacramento, and most of the Central Valley from Modesto to Redding, are under a red flag warning through Friday due to hot temperatures, windy conditions and low humidity.