Man wearing straw hat accused of fire that prompted Tuolumne County evacuations
This story originally appeared on KCRA.com.
A man is in custody in connection with a Tuolumne County fire that forced hundreds to evacuate, officials said Monday.
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Jacob William Hoskins, 30, is accused of recklessly causing the Dove Fire, the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office said in a release. A deputy originally contacted Hoskins but did not have sufficient probable cause to detain him.
However, the sheriff’s office said a Cal Fire law enforcement officer developed additional information, and a deputy obtained more leads after speaking with someone who knew Hoskins.
Videos circulated of a man with a straw hat regarding the fire, and the sheriff’s office said the deputy investigating found Hoskins at Rotary Park in Sonora, where he had the same straw hat seen in the social media posts about the fire.
“The vigilance of community members who promptly reported suspicious activity and captured photos and videos of Hoskins proved invaluable to the investigation and ultimately contributed to his identification and arrest,” the sheriff’s office said.
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The fire prompted evacuation orders for more than 600 homes, and more than 1,400 people were warned that they may need to evacuate due to life-threatening conditions.
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The Dove Fire has threatened communities that include Sonora and Jamestown.
The Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office said the fire sparked near Highway 108 and Mill Villa Road.
On Monday, some evacuation orders were downgraded, and Highway 108 was fully reopened.
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