State fire investigators have arrested two people in the aftermath of two wildfires that burned in Northern California last week, authorities said.
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The more recent arrest happened in connection to the Pocket Fire in Sonoma County that burned 11 acres near Geyserville on Saturday, according to a statement from Cal Fire. Authorities arrested a man on felony suspicion of unlawfully causing a fire of a structure or forest land, Cal Fire said.
According to Cal Fire, investigators determined that a riding lawn mower on cured annual grasses higher than 4 feet tall caused the fire. Riding lawn mowers are designed to be used only on wet, green lawns and not for dry weeds or dry grass, because their medal blades can cause sparks that can start fires, the agency said.
Another kind of lawn-care equipment — a weed wacker — is suspected in the cause of the Adams Fire in Lake County, which burned 16 acres after starting July 3.
Authorities arrested a man for using a weed wacker in dry grasses, Cal Fire said. Sparks in such conditions can cause wildfires. Cal Fire did not say on what charges they booked the man.
Neither fire burned down a structure or caused any injuries.
Please check back for updates.
