Man Arrested For Arson After Admitting to Starting Fires Along Modoc Road Thursday

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – A 43-year-old man was arrested for arson in connection with multiple small fires along Modoc Road Thursday afternoon as well as a brush fire on State Street last weekend.

On Oct. 15, around 12:09 p.m., officers responded alongside firefighters with the Santa Barbara City Fire Department to a reported brush fire in the 2300 block of Modoc Road stated the Santa Barbara Police Department.

Arriving first responders found a second brush fire in the 2500 block of Modoc Road and both small fires were quickly extinguished without impact on surrounding structures shared the local police department.

During the response, a third fire was spotted by a patrolling officer in the 3500 block of Modoc Road and an adult man, later identified as a 43-year-old man, was contacted in the immediate area detailed the Santa Barbara Police Department.

According to the Santa Barbara Police Department, the 43-year-old admitted to starting all three fires Thursday and further investigation linked him to another brush fire in the 3600 block of State Street last weekend.

The 43-year-old was arrested and booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail on multiple counts of arson and the investigation into the fires remains open shared the Santa Barbara Police Department.