Arson suspect arrested
According to a CAL FIRE – Mendocino Unit- News Release, dated August 24, 2011:
CAL FIRE Mendocino Unit Chief Christopher P. Rowney announced today the arrest of a 36 year old Willits man for arson. Steven Gene Hensley was arrested shortly after noon, August 22nd, 2011, without incident, for a series of suspected arson fires in the Willits and Redwood Valley areas.
CAL FIRE will not release details of the investigation to protect the integrity of the upcoming criminal action, but Chief Rowney states “Fire investigators, Fire Captain Specialists Shawn Zimmermaker and Craig Dudley, have been working tirelessly to put an end to the property destruction and life threat of these intentionally set fires.”
Although this particular threat has been removed, Chief Rowney encourages all residents to continue to prepare their property for unwanted fires by creating 100 feet of defensible space around homes. Chief Rowney reminds residents preparing for a wildfire starts with three simple steps: “Ready, Set, Go”. Detailed information on “Ready, Set, Go” is available on our website at: www.fire.ca.gov or contact CAL FIRE Mendocino Unit Headquarters at (707) 459-7414.