Man accused of starting 36-acre wildfire by driving truck more than 4 miles without tires

A Northern California man is accused of starting a 36-acre project Forest fires earlier this week by driving his truck without front tires for more than four miles, causing sparks to erupt in three different locations in Sonoma County.

The Flora Fire started on Wednesday, which is also the day Sonoma police arrested Justin Roy Jones on suspicion of… a lot of things. From Patch:

Jones was arrested and booked into the Sonoma County Jail around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday on suspicion of two felonies: willful and unlawful arson of a structure, forest land or property and violation of probation terms.

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Jones remained in custody Thursday night, with bail set at $45,000. In addition to the arrest charges, he faces charges of receiving stolen property, identity theft and possession of metal knuckles, jail records show. He was scheduled to appear in court Friday morning.

Cal Fire said Jones let the metal of his right front tire grind along the asphalt for more than four miles, starting three fires that turned into one massive inferno, Democratic Press report.

Fueled by strong winds, the Flora Fire burned 36 acres along Chalk Hill Road before firefighters from seven different agencies brought it 75 percent contained by Thursday. Thirty-six acres were destroyed in just 48 hours.

Wildfires pose a huge risk in California, especially in late summer when temperatures and winds are high. Drivers shouldn’t be throwing cigarette butts into the brush, let alone sending sparks from their beat-up cars into it. This should go without saying, but it’s true: don’t drive without tires. No matter how close you are to the exit, as soon as it’s safe, pull over. It’s bad for your car and potentially dangerous for everyone around you.