A Washington state man was caught Wednesday after allegedly setting a fire intentionally along a highway, officials said.
Trooper Ryan Burke with the Washington State Patrol wrote on Twitter that the 36-year-old suspect was found on State Route 167 in Puyallup near Tacoma. He was arrested and detained, although his identity was not revealed.
Burke wrote on Thursday afternoon that officials captured another person who intentionally attempted to start a brush fire along State Route 512 and State Route 7.
“We got another one! Great job Trooper Morefield. A pedestrian decided to match light the grass at SR-512 and SR-7. Citizen observed and alerted 911. After a short foot chase, one is in custody and on his way to jail,” he said.
The arrests and arson attempts come in the midst of a historic wildfire season that has affected much of the West Coast, including Oregon, California, and Washington state.
In California, a wildfire threatened thousands of homes Thursday after winds whipped it into a monster that incinerated houses in small mountain communities and killed at least three people.
Several other people were critically burned and about 2,000 structures, including homes and other buildings were damaged or destroyed in the foothills of the northern Sierra Nevada, authorities said. About 20,000 people were under evacuation orders or warnings in three counties in Northern California.
“Time and time again we have seen how dangerous wildfires can be. ... So I ask that you please, please please be prepared, maintain situational awareness and heed the warnings,” Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea pleaded.
