During fire suppression efforts, the fire department requested assistance from the San Luis Obispo Police Department because of suspicious circumstances surrounding the fire. Fire investigators and police arson investigators determined the fire appeared to have been intentionally set. With assistance from California Department of Fish and Wildlife officers and the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office, officers initially located and detained a person of interest, who was later released. San Luis Obispo police detectives then assumed the investigation.

Through follow-up investigative efforts, detectives identified John Rorabough as a suspect. Police said Rorabough is unhoused and known to frequent the area. Paso Robles Daily News reported that police arrest man for suspected Bob Jones Trail arson. The case remains under investigation.

Reports differed on the location. Reports differed on some details.

Estimates indicated that the San Luis Obispo Fire Department was dispatched at approximately 4:30 p. m. Sept. 8 to a reported brush fire along the trail, just north of Los Osos Valley Road. The grass fire spread onto city property, and several stored vehicles also burned.

Anyone with information related to the investigation can contact Detective Koznek at jkoznek@slocity.org or (805) 594-8005.

The news staff of the Paso Robles Daily News wrote or edited this story from local contributors and press releases. The news staff can be reached at info@pasoroblesdailynews.com.

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