Investigations underway after 15 mysterious overnight fires ignite around Healdsburg

Investigators from CalFire and Healdsburg Fire look for evidence in a burn scar along Healdsburg Ave
photo credit: (Credit: Marc Albert/KRCB)

There was still caution tape and firehose at the site of one of the fires, just north of Healdsburg but few other signs of the drama that played out last night.

Officials with Healdsburg Fire were still keeping an eye on the burn scar on Healdsburg Avenue early Tuesday afternoon. A half dozen live oaks, their leaves still green, contrast with the jet black of burnt grass along the road as it gently climbs to Alexander Valley Road. Shortly after 12:30, investigators with CalFire, including battalion Chief JT Zulliger rolled up.

"We're still looking into it, we don't know. Everything is under investigation at this point and we'll be out here for the day."

While officials declined to speculate on what ignited the blazes, a reporter overheard inspectors looking for signs of fireworks.

"This is part of the job. We're out here trying to determine what the cause of these fires is and like I said, we'll be out here the rest of the day."

Miguel Pena, a retired Calfire wildland firefighter, who also happens to live less than a half mile away says he was alerted by a neighbor and went to see for himself last night, but turned in when he felt the danger had passed. He said he's relieved, at least for now.

"Well, there's always the concern, I'm glad it didn't happen when the conditions were more ripe to take off and really be a destructive type fire, but that's always a possibility."

Pena says community vigilance is urgent and the dangers, bigger than ever, are real.

"nah, just people be careful, I mean you can tell, I mean conditions are worse. I'm glad I'm not working anymore because definitely the fires have gotten more intense."