Fast-acting park visitors were lauded Friday for their help in dousing an arson fire at Wildcat Canyon Regional Park and for assisting police in locating the suspect.
East Bay Regional Park District Police responded to the park after a park user reported a person setting fire to the grass.
“The park user dumped water on the fire and provided a description to officers,” police said. “[The suspect] was quickly located, detained, and ultimately transported to Martinez Detention Facility and booked for arson.”
East Bay Regional Park District Fire officials responded to extinguish and monitor the smoldering grass, police said. No injuries were reported.
East Bay Park police encourage park users to report emergencies or criminal conduct by calling 9-1-1 or their non-emergency number (510) 881-1833.
1/3Thanks to some quick-acting park visitors and the investigative abilities of our officers, a fire at #WildcatCanyon did not spread, and a suspected arsonist is in custody. Officers responded when a park user reported a person setting fire to the grass. The park user dumped pic.twitter.com/fCuB8tI5zO
— East Bay Regional Park District Police Department (@RegionalParksPD) September 24, 2021
(3/3) With the lack of moisture & the dry grass in the parks, we ask everyone to be proactive in preventing fires. Smoking is prohibited in the East Bay Regional Parks. Please report emergencies or criminal conduct by calling 9-1-1 or our non-emergency number 510-881-1833.
— East Bay Regional Park District Police Department (@RegionalParksPD) September 24, 2021
