A Humboldt County man was arrested on suspicion of recklessly starting a fire and remains a person of interest in two other recent fires

By Olivia Hebert
SFGate, San Francisco

HUMBOLDT COUNTY, Calif. — As multiple fires broke out across northeastern Humboldt County on Sunday, sheriff’s deputies arrested a man allegedly trying to spread an active blaze while dressed like a wildland firefighter.

Just two months earlier, he had been arrested after witnesses reported seeing him try to “accelerate” a small vegetation fire with his hands.

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Humboldt County sheriff’s deputies arrested Aaron James Pole, 52, of Hoopa, on Sunday after responding around 6:30 p.m. to reports of someone trying to fan the flames of a blaze along Highway 96. Witness statements and evidence collected at the scene led deputies to arrest him on suspicion of recklessly causing a fire involving a structure or forestland, according to an Oct. 12 news release.

Pole was booked into Humboldt County Correctional Facility.

Investigators are seeking information about a maroon Ford F-350 van that Pole was driving Sunday, particularly whether it was seen near the fires before they started. He remains a person of interest in two other fires — one along Highway 169 near Pecwan Creek in Weitchpec and another near Big Hill Road and Marshall Lane in Hoopa — but investigators said they have not established probable cause to arrest him in connection with either one.

The arrest comes just two months after Pole was accused of attempting to spread a vegetation fire with his hands near the Hoopa Rodeo Grounds, according to an earlier sheriff’s office news release. Deputies arrested him on suspicion of arson, assault and resisting an officer and an outstanding warrant for failure to appear.

Pole was also identified as a suspect in a July fire on Tish Tang Road.

Both previous fire investigations were referred to the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office. SFGATE contacted the DA’s office but did not hear back prior to publication.

Anyone with information can contact the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at 707-445-7251 or the Hoopa Valley Tribal Police Department at 530-625-4202.

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