Information provided by the public shortly after the Robbers fire started last week led to today's arrest of a 28-year-old Sacramento man, according to fire officials.
Bryon Mason (pictured) was arrested on suspicion of recklessly causing the fire that began about 3:30 p.m. July 11 off Yankee Jims Road near the north fork of the American River in Placer County. Bail is set at $100,000.
Daniel Berlant, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said investigators determined that the fire was started by a pyrotechnic device.
"That first day, we received numerous reports from people who allegedly had information (about how the fire started), and that's what helped us get to this point," Berlant said.
The fire, which was reported reported fully contained late this afternoon, burned 2,650 acres northeast of Foresthill. It destroyed one home and four outbuildings, and threatened 170 residences. Families were forced for evacuate their homes, with some displaced for more than a week. Cal Fire reported that all evacuations were lifted today.
To date, Berlant said, the cost of fighting the fire is estimated to be more than $13 million. At the peak of the battle, approximately 2,000 personnel were involved in the firefighting effort.
"This is the third arrest our officers have made in less than a month," Chief Ken Pimlott, director of Cal Fire, said in a written statement. "We don't need reckless acts of carelessness and arson compounding California wildfire risk, and we will continue to aggressively pursue those that engage in these types of acts."
Berlant said Cal Fire investigators would like to talk to possible witnesses who may have been in the area when the fire started July 11. Anyone who may have additional information about the fire is asked to call Cal Fire's hot line at (800) 468-4408. Callers can remain anonymous.
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