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Arson suspect arrested in Boles fire; 157 homes were destroyed

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Police in the small Northern California city of Weed have arrested a suspect on suspicion of arson in connection with a fire that destroyed 157 homes and forced the evacuation of 4,000 people last month.

Weed Police Department officials said in a statement that they arrested Ronald Beau Marshall, 24, Saturday on suspicion of arson of an inhabited structure, arson to forest land and arson of property of another.

He was being held at Siskiyou County Jail on $250,000 bail.

The arrest came after a three-week joint investigation by Weed police, the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Department and Cal Fire.

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The Boles fire took a heavy toll on Weed, destroying two churches, a library and machinery at the town’s mill, which processes materials for plywood.

More than 1,000 firefighters battled the blaze, which burned 516 acres.

Officials asked that anyone with information about potential arson cases call Cal Fire’s Arson Hotline at 1-800-468-4408. Callers can remain anonymous.

Follow Abby Sewell on Twitter at @sewella

 
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