Petaluma police arrested a Santa Rosa woman on suspicion of arson after a vehicle fire on Saturday, Nov. 7, at Satto Steamer Landing Park, and they are investigating a second fire less than an hour later as arson as well, the Press Democrat reported, citing the Police Department.
Officers responded about 1:20 p.m. to 100 E. D St., where a vehicle fire had already been extinguished and no injuries were reported. After interviewing witnesses and examining evidence, investigators determined someone had allegedly thrown an unidentified object underneath the vehicle, partially setting it on fire, police said. The woman was booked into Sonoma County Jail and was being held Tuesday, Nov. 10, in lieu of $75,000 bail, jail records showed. The newspaper did not name her.
At about 2:05 p.m., officers responded to a fire in a grassy area near a trestle along the Lynch Creek Trail, south of the railroad tracks and east of the Petaluma River. The fire burned an area estimated at 100 feet by 100 feet and was spreading slowly when authorities arrived; firefighters put it out, and no people or structures were threatened, police said. Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit security also responded, and spokesperson Julia Gonzalez said there were some minor delays to the train schedule Saturday. As of Tuesday, no suspect had been identified in the second fire, and both investigations were ongoing. Police asked anyone with information to call 707-778-4372.