Suspect arrested in Alexander Mountain fire investigation – The Rocky Mountain Collegian

Editor's Note: This is a breaking news story. Updates will be provided as they become available.

Larimer County Sheriff's investigators have arrested Loveland resident Jason Alexander Hobby in connection with the Alexander Mountain Fire.

Officials from the LCSO and the US Forest Service reported that investigators certainly The fire broke out in a campfire site on Friday, August 9, and was caused by humans.

Hobby, an employee of the Sylvan Dale Ranch in the area where the fire broke out, was identified as a suspect during the investigation, according to a Press release by LCSO, published on Wednesday, September 11.

LCSO reported that Hobby posed as a police officer and certified firefighter before and during the fire, even though he had neither formal legal training nor a firefighter license.

In addition to falsely impersonating a police officer, Hobby reportedly stopped travelers on the Sylvan Dale Ranch property while driving a Chevrolet SUV designed to look like a police vehicle. He also falsely told people they were trespassing and pointed a firearm at them, according to the LCSO.

Investigators also reported that Hobby bypassed closed roads to gain access to restricted areas and posed as a wildfire fighter during the fire.

An arrest warrant was served on Hobby and he was taken into custody and booked into the Larimer County Jail on Tuesday, September 10. He was charged with first-degree arson, two counts of abuse of authority, menacing, false imprisonment and abuse of authority.

The wildfire was first reported on Monday, July 29, in Larimer County north of US Highway 34 and west of Loveland, Colorado, and spread to 9,668 acres. More than 530 local, state and federal personnel were deployed to battle the blaze.

Four homes were damaged by the fire and 29 houses and 21 outbuildings were destroyed. Damage to private and public property is estimated at over $30 million, according to LSCO.

“The Alexander Mountain fire destroyed homes, put lives at risk and scarred our community – literally. I am extremely grateful to our LCSO investigative team and partners at the U.S. Forest Service who worked diligently to find answers in this case,” said Larimer County Sheriff John Feyen. “I also want to thank the Sylvan Dale Ranch staff. Despite the fire danger on their doorstep, they were extremely helpful during the firefighting process and cooperated with our investigation afterward.”

The LCSO said investigators believe Hobby may have falsely identified himself as a police or fire officer in other situations. Anyone with information regarding the suspect's involvement in the Alexander Mountain Fire or who believes they may be the victim of an identity fraud allegation should contact LCSO Investigator Justin Atwood at 970-498-5143.

The local and federal investigation is ongoing and no further information is available at this time. Updates will be provided as they become available.

Reach Hannah Parcells at [email protected] or on Twitter @hannahparcells.