Press release from CALFIRE:

This month, the CAL FIRE Humboldt – Del Norte Unit Emergency Command Center (ECC) had received multiple reports of vegetation fires near the end of Highway 169 East on the Yurok Reservation. Several fires occurred at the Jack Norton Elementary School, with one directly behind the classroom and another near a propane tank.

Over the course of several incidents, some of which involved multiple fires at a time, a person of interest was identified. On March 10th, 2022, CAL FIRE Law Enforcement, assisted by Yurok Tribal Police, contacted Louie Meyers, a local resident. Mr. Meyers is a suspect in causing multiple vegetation fires in the area.

Meyers was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on the following charge:

• PC 451(c) – Arson of a structure or forest land (six counts)

The CAL FIRE Humboldt – Del Norte Unit would like thank the public for reporting these fires. While the use of prescribed fire can be an effective tool to reduce hazardous vegetative fuels, uncontrolled fires such as these threaten residents, structures, and other property. Lack of rainfall in recent months further added to the risk these fires created.