Arson suspect barricaded self in Rancho Cordova home and set it on fire, authorities say

Sacramento County deputies detained a man who barricaded himself inside a Rancho Cordova home Friday morning and destroyed a home by setting it on fire , prompting evacuations, authorities said.

The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District was called about 6:50 a.m. to the 3000 block of Ramsgate Way in Rancho Cordova for a man who was intentionally setting his home on fire, said Battalion Chief Parker Wilbourn, a Metro Fire spokesperson.

When firefighters initially arrived on scene, there was no sign of smoke or fire, Wilbourn said.

Deputies in a social media post around 9:45 a.m. then said an arson suspect barricaded himself inside a home, where he is believed to be alone. He set the inside of the home on fire, the Sheriff’s Office said in an update about an hour later.

Officers from the Rancho Cordova Police Department, which is staffed by Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office deputies, and deputies with the Sheriff’s Office SWAT team are at the scene. Residents were evacuated from the surrounding area.

The Sheriff’s Office said in an updated social media post shortly after noon that the suspect safely surrendered and was taken into custody.

“The suspect was eventually overwhelmed by smoke and fire, and gave himself up to deputies,” Metro Fire said in a social media post.

The suspect was taken to the hospital with smoke inhalation injuries and no one else suffered any injuries, firefighters said.

He faces multiple arson charges, firefighters said.

This story was originally published February 7, 2025 at 12:06 PM.