A woman accused of setting a destructive fire in the Sierra Nevada foothills has been arrested on suspicion of arson, authorities said.
Police in the town of Grass Valley in Nevada County responded to three 911 calls reporting smoke and brush fire around Nevada City Highway and Gates Place at about 3:20 p.m., authorities said.
Witnesses pointed to a woman who, after being detained, “spontaneously claimed” to have accidentally started the fire with a cigarette, according to Grass Valley Police Lt. Brian Blakemore.
She later recanted and said she had started the fire while testing a lighter in brush, Blakemore said. The suspect, identified as Elizabeth Houston, 49, was arrested on suspicion of arson.
The wind-driven flames quickly reached the south end of the Sierra Motor Sports property, where the business was storing 50-gallon drums of discarded gasoline, Blakemore said. Once they caught fire, all of the buildings on the property were destroyed, including the main showroom, an outside maintenance structure and several smaller sheds and storage buildings.
The business owners told police the damage amounted to at least $1.5 million, according to police. Sierra Motor Sports has been in business for more than 30 years.
“It is certainly a significant loss not only for the business but for the entire community,” Blakemore said.
The Grass Valley Fire Department and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection managed to contain the initial blaze to about 3 acres and save several other structures in the area, including several homes and a flower shop, officials said. The fire also temporarily prompted evacuation orders for surrounding areas, but those were lifted shortly before 5 p.m.
