A man was arrested Sunday on suspicion of starting a wildfire in rural Madera County just hours after crews responded to a separate nearby blaze sparked by farm equipment, authorities said.

Around 3 p.m., Madera County sheriff’s deputies and CalFire crews responded to a vegetation fire near Road 400 and Adobe Ranch.

That fire was determined to have been accidentally caused by workers operating a tractor.

While leaving the scene of the first fire, a CalFire engine crew spotted a man running away from a wooded area toward a blue Ford F-150 pickup with a camper shell. Moments later, the crew saw smoke rising from the area the man had fled, officials said.

Deputies at the command post for the initial fire were alerted to the suspicious activity and given a description of the vehicle. Deputy Brendan Johnson located the truck about two miles south of the scene and conducted a traffic stop.

Abel Joel Garcia Zarate

The driver, identified as Abel Joel Garcia Zarate, 39, of Biola, told deputies he had stopped in the area to smoke marijuana but panicked, threw a marijuana cigarette to the ground, and fled when he saw fire personnel. Investigators said Zarate’s story did not align with witness accounts or physical evidence.

Zarate was found carrying a cigarette lighter, matches, and a pair of binoculars at the time of his arrest. The CalFire crew identified Zarate and his vehicle, and fire investigators determined the new blaze had a deliberate origin, described as a “hot set,” the sheriff’s office said.

Zarate was booked on multiple felony arson charges. His bail was set at $75,000.

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