Cal Fire investigators arrest two men accused of arson in separate Butte County wildfires
Two men face arson charges in unrelated Butte County cases after Cal Fire investigators arrested them last week in connection with two wildfires in Oroville that were quickly stopped by firefighters.
The first wildfire, known as the Miners Fire, was reported about 11:40 p.m. Aug. 28, near the intersection of Kelly Ridge Road and Highway 162.
Firefighters arrived and attacked the wildfire, which at the time was creating a potential threat to structures at Miner’s Ranch Reservoir, the Saddle Dam and a nearby water treatment facility, the Cal Fire Butte Unit announced Wednesday in a news release.
Cal Fire said firefighters quickly stopped the spread of the fire. Investigators determined the cause of the fire was arson.
On Sept. 6, Cal Fire investigators served a search warrant and arrested Jesse James Creekmore, 25, on suspicion of starting the Miners Fire. He was booked at the Butte County Jail, where Creekmore remained in custody Thursday. Cal Fire said his bail amount was set at $78,000.
The Butte County District Attorney’s Office filed a felony charge of arson of a structure or forest, Butte Superior Court records show. Creekmore made his first court appearance Tuesday and is scheduled to return to court Wednesday.
The second wildfire, known as the Lincoln Fire, was reported about 11:50 p.m. Sept. 7. Cal Fire said the fire was burning in the 4200 block of Lincoln Boulevard in Oroville.
Firefighters stopped the Lincoln Fire from spreading within 40 minutes and notified Cal Fire investigators of a person suspected of starting the fire.
Investigators determined the cause of the Lincoln Fire was arson and questioned Omar Luna Rocha, 35, who admitted to starting a fire on property he didn’t have permission to enter, according to Cal Fire.
Cal Fire arrested Rocha and booked him at the jail, where he remained in custody on Thursday.
The District Attorney’s Office filed a felony charge of recklessly causing a forest fire against Rocha, along with a misdemeanor charge of failing to comply with convicted sex offender registration orders, court records show.
Rocha made his first court appearance on Wednesday and was scheduled to return to court the following day for further proceedings in his criminal case.
Investigators asked anyone with information about either of these fires or any other suspicious fires to call Cal Fire’s Butte County Fire Prevention Bureau at 530-538-7888 or the statewide Arson Hotline at 800-468-4408.
