Alleged arsonist in custody following fires along I-5

A Woodland man was arrested on suspicion of arson Wednesday after witnesses reportedly saw him walking along Interstate 5 just south of Ridgefield and setting fires along the roadway, according to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office said Samuel U. Morales, 57, was held on suspicion of second-degree reckless burning.

Around 3 p.m. Wednesday, Washington State Department of Transportation employees reported seeing a man walking along the roadway’s shoulder and lighting brush on fire near Dolan Road at Bird’s English Nursery, according to the Washington State Patrol. The suspect was taken into custody on a warrant, police said.

After state troopers detained Morales, he was taken to a local hospital for a health evaluation, the sheriff’s office said.

The sheriff’s and county fire marshal’s offices are handling the investigation. The fire burned about one to two acres in grass and trees. No structures were damaged.

About 30 minutes after the fire was reported, WSDOT said the fire was out, but warned that motorists heading northbound could expect delays from the Gee Creek Rest Area to exit 14.

Firefighters reported seeing a tree catch fire, sending flames more than 30 feet into the air, according to emergency radio traffic monitored at The Columbian.

Firefighters quickly doused another brush fire along I-5 near the La Center exit Wednesday morning.

Crews were called to the blaze just before 10 a.m., and arrived to find a working fire about 100 feet by 20 feet, Clark County Fire & Rescue spokesman Tim Dawdy said.

Two engines and a battalion chief from the agency responded and extinguished the flames.

Dawdy said the fire appeared to be human-caused, and that it serves as a good reminder that people should remain careful through the end of the summer.

“Fire season is still in full swing,” he said. “We were lucky on this one. Firefighters were able to get to it quickly, but (fires) can still get away and cause lots of damage.”

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