The following is a press release from the Ukiah Police Department
On 8/18/2020 at approx. 2143 hours, UPD Officers were dispatched to the area of 1200 Airport Park Boulevard for a report of a vegetation fire. UPD Officers arrived on scene and located three separate vegetation fires in the area. Ukiah Valley Fire Department and Cal Fire firefighters arrived on scene and began extinguishing the fires.
As the fires were being extinguished, UPD Officers were notified of another fire along the railroad tracks in the vicinity of 900 Waugh Lane. A UPD Officer arrived on scene and worked to extinguish the blaze with a fire extinguisher from the patrol vehicle. As the Officer was awaiting the fire department, another fire was reported in the area of E. Gobbi Street and Village Circle along the railroad tracks. UPD Officers located another fire that had been set in the vegetation.
UPD Officers as well as the Ukiah Valley Fire Department determined that the fires had been intentionally set and began investigating the fires as acts of arson.
On 8/19/2020 at approx. 0148 hours, A UPD Officer on patrol located a fire on the railroad tracks between Clara Street and Ford Street. The UVFD and Cal Fire again responded and extinguished the blaze. As the Officer was investigating this fire, the UPD was notified of another vegetation fire in in the 400 block of Oak
Manor Drive. Both of these fires are being investigated as arson as well.At approx. 0445 hours, UPD Officers were again dispatched to a vegetation fire, this time in the 700 block of E. Gobbi Street. The fire was extinguished and UPD began another arson investigation.
UPD and the Ukiah Valley Fire Department in all are currently investigating 8 separate arsons which occurred in the city limits overnight between 8/18/2020 and 8/19/2020. Anyone who may have witnessed any of these fires or any individuals who may be responsible for setting them is urged to contact the UPD at 707-463-6262.
The Ukiah Police Department would like to remind the great citizens of Ukiah that during the current COVID-19 pandemic we are still out in the city enforcing the law and keeping the public safe. As always, our mission at the Ukiah Police Department is to make Ukiah as safe as possible. Additionally, the UPD would like to thank the Ukiah Valley Fire Department, Cal Fire and the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office for their quick response and assistance with these fires.
