Alleged East Bay serial arsonist arrested

CONCORD,  Calif. (KTVU) – A 29-year-old Bay Point man has been arrested in connection with at least eight East Bay arson fires including a blaze that burned perilously close to a home near Highway  24 in Lafayette, authorities said.

Contra Costa fire officials said James William Wilson was taken into custody without incident early Wednesday and was being held on $1 million bail.

The bail was enhanced due to the nature of his alleged activity during Gov. Brown’s declaration of a state of emergency.

Investigators say Wilson may have played a role in more than 30 East Bay fires along State Highway 4, Highway 24 and Marsh Creek Road. 

The communities impacted by those fires include Orinda, Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Concord, Martinez, Pittsburg, Clayton and Brentwood.

Although Wilson was in custody, authorities said, the fires remain under investigation. Anyone with information pertaining to the fires is asked to call the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Arson Line at 866-502-7766.