PREVIOUSLY: Humboldt Bay Fire Extinguishes Early Morning Blaze on Third Street

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Eureka Police Department press release:

On 12-11-2018 at about 4:12 am, Eureka Police Department (EPD) and Humboldt Bay Fire Department (HBFD) personnel responded to a structure fire at the 10 block of west 3rd St in Eureka. As fire personnel extinguished the fire, patrol officers began scouring the area for possible suspect(s), but no suspects were located.

Detectives and officers have been working tirelessly, conducting interviews, processing evidence, and reviewing video surveillance. As a result of the investigation, the following two suspects were identified, Cassandra Lee Flower (29 years old) and Charles Zane Riley (37 years old).

On 12-13-2018, both suspects were located at separate locations and taken into custody. After being interviewed and processed for evidence, they were ultimately booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility (HCCF) on a charge of arson. Both suspects are being held on $75,000 bail. Depending on the property and if it is inhabited, the crime of arson can have a maximum sentence of three (3) to eight (8) years in State prison.

EPD Detectives will be working in collaboration with HBFD personnel to determine if Flower or Riley are also connected to any of the other recent fires.

Arson events can not only result in various degrees of property damage, but they are an extreme risk to the public. We are very fortunate that none of the fires resulted in injury or loss of life. The Eureka Police Department will continue to investigate these fires until all responsible are held accountable.

Anyone with information regarding the recent fires is urged to call the Eureka Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Section at 707-441-4300.