NORTH COAST, Calif. – The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man who they believe set numerous fires around Ukiah on Wednesday.

Alberto Vincent Acosta, 32, of Ukiah was arrested for arson on Thursday morning, according to Capt. Greg Van Patten.

Law enforcement officials and firefighters discovered the fires in a timeframe of less than an hour and a half late Wednesday afternoon and early evening, based on Van Patten’s report.

In an initial report on Wednesday, officials suspected seven separate fires had been set, but that number was increased to nine in the Thursday report.

Detectives have linked Acosta to the fires that occurred at the following locations on Wednesday:

– 4:56 p.m.: South Dora Street near Fircrest Drive.
– 4:58 p.m.: South Dora Street at Bourbon Lane.
– 5:04 p.m.: Gobalet Lane at South State Street.
– 5:15 p.m.: Plant Road near Taylor Drive.
– 5:18 p.m.: End of Airport Park Boulevard.
– 6:14 to 6:19 p.m.: Four separate fires on Babcock Lane near Talmage bridge.

Van Patten said detectives from the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office continued their investigations into the late evening hours on Wednesday.

The detectives interviewed an off-duty Mendocino County Sheriff's Office corrections deputy who had been driving in the area of the Talmage bridge at the approximate time of the fires on Babcock Lane, Van Patten said.

The corrections deputy noticed Acosta near the area of the fire and provided that information along with Acosta's description to detectives, who Van Patten said were able to collect footage from surveillance video systems from residences and businesses near some of the fires.

He said the information from the corrections deputy and the video systems footage established evidence which prompted detectives to issue a be-on-the-lookout notification to local law enforcement agencies for Acosta's arrest.

At 7 a.m. Thursday, a Ukiah Police officer was on routine patrol in the area of Perkins Street and South Orchard Avenue when he noticed Acosta walking in the area. Van Patten said the officer stopped Acosta, who was released to sheriff's office detectives.

Acosta was subsequently booked into the Mendocino County Jail on charges of arson of an inhabited structure, arson of structure or forest land and arson during a state of emergency, Van Patten reported.

Van Patten said Acosta is being held in lieu of $1 million bail.

At this time it appears the fires caused damage to vegetation and the wooden deck of one residence, Van Patten said.

Mendocino County Sheriff's detectives are continuing to ask for the public's assistance in obtaining security camera footage to assist in this investigation.

If any business or residence has security camera footage depicting Acosta during the time frame of 4:50 p.m. to 6:57 p.m. on Wednesday, contact the Sheriff's Office Tip Line by calling 707-234-2100.

The areas of interest for security camera footage in Ukiah are Luce Avenue to South Dora Street, South Dora Street to Oak Court Road, South State Street to Gobalet Lane, Plant Road, Norgard Lane near the railroad tracks, Airport Park Boulevard, Airport Road and Babcock Lane from Talmage Road to East Gobbi Street, Van Patten said.

The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office thanked the Ukiah Police Department, California Highway Patrol, County of Mendocino Marijuana Enforcement Team and Mendocino County Major Crimes Task Force for their assistance during this investigation, and recognized Cal Fire, the Ukiah Valley Fire Authority, Hopland Fire Department, Redwood Valley Fire Department and Potter Valley Fire Department for their response and fire suppression efforts during the fires.