Authorities in Larimer County, Colorado, have charged a man named Jason Alexander Hobby, 49, with arson following an investigation into a wildfire that occurred earlier in the summer. The wildfire, which began on a guest ranch where Hobby was employed, led to the destruction of 26 homes and more than $30 million in property damage. The blaze, situated west of Loveland, also damaged four homes and razed 21 outbuildings, spanning 15 square miles before it was extinguished on August 17th.
Hobby was taken into custody by Larimer County Sheriff John Feyen on Tuesday and was due to appear in court on Wednesday to face a first-degree arson charge related to the wildfire incident. The Sheriff stated that the fire originated from a fire ring at the guest ranch on July 29th, but whether it was deliberate or accidental remains uncertain. Hobby was dismissed from his position at the ranch after emerging as a suspect in the case.
In addition to the arson accusation, Hobby faces charges of impersonating a police officer, menacing, and false imprisonment. Allegedly, he stopped travelers on the ranch’s premises while driving an SUV that resembled a law enforcement vehicle, falsely claiming to be a law enforcement officer and brandishing a firearm at them. These actions occurred before the wildfire outbreak, according to investigators. Furthermore, Hobby utilized a pickup truck modified to look like a wildland firefighter vehicle to bypass checkpoints during the fire emergency.
Initially, Hobby’s bail was set at $250,000, and he is set to appear in court again on September 24th to address the charges brought against him.
