Vegetation Fire Ruled Arson

San Andreas, CA – Columbia air and local firefighters assisted in a vegetation blaze in the Oakdale area of Stanislaus County that ended with one arrest.

The call went out around 12:46 p.m. on Thursday for CAL Fire Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit to help the Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District work a grass fire in the campgrounds at Woodward Reservoir in the Duck Cove area, off 26 Mile Road, as reported here. CAL Fire spokesperson Emily Kilgore relays that 65-year-old Ronald Zaske, who remained near the fire scene, was taken into custody. She details, “When they [firefighters] arrived on scene bystanders had contained a 50’ by 50’ spot of vegetation. Witnesses identified Mr. Zaske as being the person who created arson to the wildland.”

Kilgore says she cannot comment on how the fire was started as it is an ongoing investigation. She also relays that the case will be submitted to the Stanislaus District Attorney’s Office regarding charges for this violation.