Sparks from Tireless Truck Cause 36-Acre Flora Fire in Sonoma County, Arrest Made

The following is a press release from the CAL FIRE LNU. The information has not been proven in a court of law and any individuals described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty:

AL FIRE Law Enforcement arrested an adult male from Anderson, Calif. in connection
to the cause of the 36-acre Flora Fire Wednesday off Chalk Hill Road in northern Sonoma County.

Justin Roy Jones, 44, was booked into the Sonoma County Jail in Santa Rosa at approximately 7:25 p.m. and charged with two felony counts.

The charges were for violations of Penal Code § 452 (c) for unlawfully and recklessly starting a fire to any structure, forestland or property, and Penal Code § 1203.2 for violating terms of his probation.

The subject was observed driving his truck with no right front tire for over four miles, creating sparks as the truck grinded on the asphalt. This caused three separate fires along Chalk Hill Road, threatening multiple structures and burned 36 acres.

The fire was first reported at 4:39 p.m. near the 12000 block of Chalk Hill Road. The road was closed to traffic between Spurgeon Road and Flora Ranch Road into late Wednesday evening. The wind driven fire quickly grew to 36 acres before firefighters were able to stop its forward progress at 7:15 p.m.

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Assisting agencies on the fire include Northern Sonoma County FPD, Sonoma County Fire District, Santa Rosa Fire, Healdsburg Fire, Dry Creek Rancheria Fire, Gold Ridge FPD, South Lake County FPD and California Highway Patrol.

Visit fire.ca.gov to stay up-to-date on all fire activity across California and to learn more about preparing for the threat of wildfire, visit ReadyForWildfire.org.

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