Ukiah Valley Fire Authority Battalion Chief Eric Singleton told us that fire investigators have determined that a residential structure fire on Ukiah’s Gibson Street yesterday evening was the result of arson.
The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Booking Logs list 31-year-old Redwood Valley man Travis Joseph Humphrey as having been booked yesterday evening by Ukiah Police Department on two charges–arson of inhabited structure and arson during a state of insurrection.
There are multiple circumstances involving Travis Humphrey as documented in Ukiah Police Department logs.
- On November 7, 2021, Humphrey was arrested for public intoxication after riding a neon green bike through a store.
- On November 2, 2021, Humphrey was reportedly booked and released after alleged trespassing and probation violations.
- On September 22, 2021, Humphrey was arrested with another for public intoxication.
- On September 6, 2021, Humprey was reportedly found lying in front of a laundromat in Ukiah after reports emerged a “transient male was just kicking other male in the head.” Humphrey claimed to responding officers he was “acting in self-defense.”
Battalion Chief Singleton told us at the scene of the incident last night that fire personnel were initially dispatched to 150 Gibson Street at approximately 6:45 p.m. and there was a significant number of personnel available because the fire coincided with UVFA’s volunteer training night.
The residence that burned is associated with Redwood Community Services appearing to be part of their network of substance abuse/behavioral health services to individuals experiencing those issues.
When resources arrived at the scene, they found a two-story home with “heavy smoke coming out of the first story and moving into the second story,” Battalion Chief Singleton said. The active flames were successfully contained in the first story.
The flames did not actually breach the residence’s walls nor windows and did not affect nearby vegetation or homes, Battalion Chief Singleton said.
Multiple occupants reportedly had to flee the building as the flames grew and Battalion Chief Singleton explained firefighters conducted multiple searches of the building to confirm all residents had left. No occupants reportedly experienced medical issues as a result of the fire.
Multiple agencies responded to the structure fire including Ukiah Valley Fire Authority, Hopland Fire Protection District, Redwood Valley/Calpella Fire Department, and CAL FIRE.
With due respect to the victims of the circumstances described, it must be stated that the charges contained in the booking log have not been proven in a court of law. In accordance with the legal principle of the presumption of innocence, any individual described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Dude needs a Q tip.