Water dropped by a helicopter lands on flames burning near the Reagan Library during the Easy Fire in Simi Valley, California on October 30, 2019
Water dropped by a helicopter lands on flames burning near the Reagan Library during the Easy Fire in Simi Valley, California on October 30, 2019 AFP / Mark RALSTON

California police arrested a Santa Rosa man for allegedly starting a small wildfire as blazes raged across the state.

Andrew Craig Faulkner, 25, was arrested Wednesday by Cal Fire law enforcement in connection with a small fire that started outside Geyserville. Cal Fire and the Sonoma County fire departments responded to the 6 a.m. inferno. Crews on the scene were able to contain the fire to 3 1/2 acres before extinguishing it completely.

Investigators arrived shortly after to identify a possible cause and determined it was arson. Details were not released.

Faulkner was arrested near Geyersville on a variety of arson charges and taken to the Sonoma County Jail.

Sonoma County is still contending with the Kincade Fire, which officials reported was 60% contained by Thursday morning. While no deaths have been reported, more than 76,000 acres have been damaged and 282 buildings destroyed. Winds also died down Wednesday evening, enabling crews to work on containment.

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