Damage to a business at 1500 Kirker Pass Road in Clayton, Calif., is seen in this photo dated January 21, 2022. (Contra Costa County Fire Protection District via BCN)
Authorities arrested two men last week in apparent separate cases of arson in Contra Costa County.
Firefighters on Friday responded to reports of a fire at 1500 Kirker Pass Road in Clayton. Debris at the rear door of a business was burning and spread to the interior of the structure, according to the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District.
Surveillance video obtained by fire investigators showed a white man wearing a black jacket, black pants, and a red shirt in the area around the time the fire started. The man, later identified as 57-year-old Kevin Cooper of Concord, was allegedly seen placing cardboard and wood on the fire it to make it larger.
Cooper, who was also seen in video leaving the scene immediately after the fire started, was later stopped by Concord police wearing similar clothes as the man in the video.
Cooper later allegedly told investigators he was in the area when the fire started and was arrested by fire district investigators. He was taken by Clayton police to the Martinez Detention Facility, where he was booked on suspicion of arson to an inhabited structure.
On Saturday, firefighters and Pittsburg police were called to the 3700 block of Railroad Avenue in Pittsburg, where someone was reportedly opening fire hydrants.
Oakley resident Dennis Wolfenbarger, 42, told first responders he set a fire in an unoccupied nearby business. Firefighters removed a small metal container with burning material inside before flames spread to the structure. Police arrested Wolfenbarger and took him to Martinez Detention Facility, where he was booked on suspicion of arson to property and tampering with a utility.
Anyone with information about either incident can call Con Fire’s anonymous arson tip line at (866) 50-ARSON.
Last modified January 25, 2022 1:25 pm
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