NORTH COAST, Calif. – The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office said this week that it has joined with other agencies to investigate a series of fires reported in the same day near Covelo earlier this month.

Lt. Shannon Barney said that on Aug. 5 the agency was advised of 15 separate fires that started north of the town of Covelo in the valley floor of Round Valley.

At the time these fires were reported, Barney said there was a heightened awareness of fire danger due to several ongoing incidents, including the Eel Fire, east of Covelo in the Mendocino National Forest, and the Mendocino Complex, composed of the River and Ranch fires, that began in Mendocino County before moving into Lake County.

Barney said that, due to the large number of fires that started in a relative short time frame – between noon and 3 p.m. – the community was naturally alarmed.

Five of these fires were started opposite the Round Valley Tribal Gas Station and Store on Highway 162, nine were started along Crawford and Refuse Roads, and one was started near the intersection of Biggar Lane and Highway 162, Barney said.

While no residences were lost, Barney said one of these fires destroyed a large amount of wooden fencing and threatened numerous homes and outbuildings.

Barney said that rumors began to circulate within the community about a possible active arsonist, and a potential suspect was named and described as having been in a vehicle in the area where two of the fires were started.

In an effort to address the community's concerns, Barney said the Mendocino County Sheriff's Patrol Division, the detectives division, Covelo Volunteer Fire Department and Cal Fire personnel initiated an investigation into the possible cause and origin of the fires.

A video surveillance system revealed the person who had been named as a possible suspect had a similar vehicle but was found to not have the same vehicle that had been seen in the immediate area, Barney said.

This person was contacted and interviewed, and denied any involvement in starting of any fires. Barney said this individual fully cooperated with law enforcement during this investigation.

In viewing surveillance tapes, authorities identified a second vehicle and contacted the owner, Barney said.

Barney said this person had been towing a recently acquired trailer and admitted to having driven the same routes in the immediate time frames as all the fires having started. An examination of the vehicle tow chains showed significant wear from "dragging" on the ground.

A Cal Fire fire investigator was consulted and agreed the starts appeared to be consistent with a chain dragging behind a trailer and did not appear to be fires that were intentionally set, according to Barney.

Barney said the case has been closed as accidental and will be handled in a noncriminal manner.

The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office reminds the public that we are facing extreme fire behavior, with firefighters on the lines of many large fires and resources stretched thin.

The public is encouraged to use all precautions to limit the potential fire threats from daily activities.