CONCORD, CALIF., – Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire) today announced its fire investigators made an arson arrest yesterday in relation to a fireworks-caused fire behind apartments in the 1700-block of Hargrove Street, Antioch that destroyed eight units and displaced 40 residents.
James Sossaman, 44, an Antioch resident, was arrested for Unlawfully Causing a Fire (PC § 452(b)) and Felon in Possession of a Firearm (PC § 29800) and transported by Antioch Police to Martinez Detention Facility for booking.
Con Fire responded to multiple reports of a vegetation fire behind apartments in the 1700 block of Hargrove in Antioch, May 31 just after 5:30 p.m. While responding, Engine 81 reported a large column of black smoke from a half mile away. Upon arrival, the grass fire had already extended from the grass into a two-story apartment complex and a second-alarm response was ordered. An aggressive fire attack followed in an attempt to slow the spread of fire.
Through witness interviews and surveillance videos, investigators located the person responsible for the grass fire and determined it was caused by Sossaman throwing an M-100 pyrotechnic device into the field behind the apartment complex. Through the investigation, Sossaman was also found to be on felony probation. During a search of his apartment a loaded firearm was located along with several other illegal fireworks.
Weather conditions at the time — temperatures in the upper 90s with wind gusts between 15-20 mph – fed the fire into the neighboring apartments.
Crews, including East Contra Costa Fire’s Battalion 5, were able to stop grassfire spread across the gully and protect the apartments on the west side of the incident.
Additional companies worked to extinguish the structure fires and search 10 separate apartments that were either on fire or in immediate danger of catching fire. Strong winds blew the fire across a breezeway to adjoining apartments. A coordinated fire attack resulted in the fire being extinguished at approximately 6:26 p.m. Crews were on scene for approximately three hours to overhaul and salvage as much as possible.
The fire displaced 40 residents and the American Red Cross assisted with housing for those displaced.
No firefighters were injured. Two civilians were transported to hospital for smoke inhalation.
Original Story:
At 5:27 pm Monday, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District responded to a report of a vegetation fire at Hargrove and E 18th Street in the City of Antioch.
The fire was originally reported by AMR who said the fire was approx 100 feet by 20 up against a fence. While responding, CONFIRE Engine 81 reported heavy black smoke was showing and upon arrival, confirmed a structure was involved.
By 5:36 pm, E81 reported they were evacuating residence and got into the first and second story floors of the apartment complex.
By 5:50 pm, it was reported fire was knocked down in at least two apartments, however, fire was still active in several other units. A 2nd alarm structure fire response was requested on top of the wildland fire response. There was also a report of a roof collapse.
UPDATE
CONFIRE reports that 8 units were damaged in total
1 comment
Every night there are fireworks going off, Three times I have found spent rockets in my yard. It took a fire for something to be done, too little too late…
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