A girl accused of sparking a damaging fireplace within the Sierra Nevada foothills has been arrested on suspicion of arson, authorities stated.
Police within the Nevada County metropolis of Grass Valley responded to 3 911 calls reporting smoke and fireplace within the brush round Nevada Metropolis Freeway and Gates Place at about 3:20 p.m., authorities stated
A girl was identified by witnesses. After being detained, she “made spontaneous claims” of beginning the fireplace with a cigarette by chance, based on Grass Valley Police Lt. Brian Blakemore.
She later recanted, then stated she began the fireplace whereas testing a lighter on the comb, Blakemore stated. The suspect, recognized as Elizabeth Houston, 49, was arrested on suspicion of felony arson.
The flames, carried by the wind, rapidly reached the southernmost fringe of the property of Sierra Motor Sports activities, the place the enterprise saved 50-gallon barrels of discarded gasoline, Blakemore stated. As soon as these caught fireplace, all buildings on the property had been destroyed, together with the principle showroom, an exterior upkeep construction and several other smaller sheds and storage buildings.
The enterprise house owners advised police the injury was not less than $1.5 million, police stated. Sierra Motor Sports activities has been in enterprise for greater than 30 years.
“Undoubtedly a serious loss not just for the enterprise, however for the entire group,” Blakemore stated.
The Grass Valley Hearth Division and California Division of Forestry and Hearth Safety had been capable of comprise the preliminary brush fireplace to round 3 acres and save a number of different constructions within the space, together with a number of houses and a flower store, authorities stated. The fireplace additionally quickly prompted evacuation orders for the encompassing areas, however these had been lifted simply earlier than 5 p.m.
