Arrest Made in Connection with Tuolumne County’s Dove Fire
Cal Fire has arrested Jacob Williams Hoskins in Tuolumne County in connection with the 225-acre Dove Fire, which broke out southwest of Sonora, prompting evacuations and road closures. Hoskins was identified from images showing him wearing a distinctive straw hat.
San Francisco Oakland San Jose, CA, July 28, 2026 —
SONORA, CA – Authorities have arrested Jacob Williams Hoskins in connection with the Dove Fire, a wildfire that consumed approximately 225 acres southwest of Sonora in Tuolumne County. The blaze, which ignited recently, led to mandatory evacuations and temporary road closures in the affected area.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) confirmed the arrest of Hoskins, identifying him as a suspect linked to the fire’s origin. Investigators reportedly identified Hoskins through surveillance imagery that captured him wearing a distinctive straw hat. The specific details regarding the timing of the arrest and the exact location where it occurred were not immediately available.
The Dove Fire prompted emergency response, with resources deployed to combat the flames and mitigate further spread. Evacuations were issued for residents in the vicinity of the fire, and several roadways were closed to facilitate firefighting operations and ensure public safety. The duration of these closures and the current status of evacuations were not provided in the available information.
Cal Fire has not yet released further details regarding the charges Hoskins is facing or the ongoing investigation into the cause of the Dove Fire. The size of the fire, at 225 acres, indicates a significant impact on the local landscape. Information concerning the timeline of the fire’s ignition and containment efforts was not specified.
Story summarized from the original created by Steph Rodriguez on ww2.kqed.org, see more information here.
