Homemade fireworks ignite vegetation fire in San Rafael, man arrested

( KRON ) — A 54-year-old Novato resident was arrested after homemade fireworks being set off in San Rafael caused a small vegetation fire Tuesday evening, according to the San Rafael Police Department.

Just after 6 p.m., the San Rafael Fire Department and police officers responded to Cresta Way in the Terra Linda neighborhood when witnesses reported hearing an explosion before a fire started at the rear of an apartment complex.

Residents of the apartment complex were temporarily evacuated as fire crews put out the vegetation blaze, which was a few hundred square feet in size, San Rafael PD said.

Witnesses at the scene pointed out Cary Newman, 54, of Novato, as the person seen setting off fireworks when the fire ignited, police said. While interviewing Newman, officers learned that the man was allegedly setting off homemade fireworks, and that he had additional homemade fireworks in his vehicle.

The University of California, Berkeley Bomb Squad was called to take possession of the fireworks, which were seized as evidence, police said. No injuries were reported from the fireworks or fire.

Newman was arrested and booked into Marin County Jail on charged of setting a fire, manufacturing fireworks and possession of fireworks, San Rafael PD said. All fireworks are prohibited in Marin County.

Anyone with additional information about the incident is asked to call the San Rafael Police Department at (415)-485-3000.

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