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Mount Shasta police, fire officials report 12-acre brush fire; arson probe ongoing
Summary
City and county crews contained a 12-acre brush fire on a ridgeline two weeks earlier; police have identified persons of interest and are pursuing an arson investigation while public-safety closures remain in effect.
A brush fire that burned about 12 acres along a Mount Shasta ridgeline two weeks ago remains an active investigation, Mount Shasta public safety officials told the City Council on May 20.
Fire Chief and other city staff said the blaze reached the ridgeline and required mutual-aid responses including CAL FIRE and neighboring agencies. Chief Gibson said the fire is largely contained and that crews will monitor hotspots for another week while assessing rehabilitation needs to address winter flooding risk from dozer lines.
“The fire ended up being 12 acres up here on the ridgeline. . . . We have lots of resources from CAL FIRE,” the chief reported. He said the city will likely need to pursue rehabilitation work and that some costs may fall to the Local Response Area (LRA) budget pending follow-up with the city manager.
Mount Shasta Police told the council they have identified a couple of potential persons of interest as the arson investigation proceeds. Police said investigators are conducting continuing interviews, collecting witness tips and forensic photos; an arson investigator is scheduled to return to duty and resume on-scene work the following Thursday.
“No nobody is allowed in the area. Spring Hill Trail is closed for safety of all people,” Chief Gibson said, adding that officers had earlier chased a person matching a description seen near the incident and found two large camps on adjacent Forest Service and county land.
Police described a person of interest as a white adult male, approximately 5'8" to 5'10", curly hair and wearing a necklace with shells or coins. Authorities asked residents to contact the Mount Shasta Police Department with any tips.
City staff warned of potential flooding or erosion this coming winter where dozer lines were constructed and said the city will coordinate with CAL FIRE foresters to plan mitigation and rehabilitation.
The council heard public appreciation for fire and police responders during the updates.
