Clearlake Oaks man arrested for setting fire near senior apartments admits to setting other fires
- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – Authorities this week took a Clearlake Oaks man with a history of arson into custody for setting a fire near a senior apartment complex on Monday, and since his arrest he’s admitted to setting other fires over the summer.
Matthew Samuel Miravalle, 35, was arrested on Thursday, according to a report from Lt. Corey Paulich of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Paulich said Northshore Fire units responded to a fire in the area of Highway 20 and Lake Street in Clearlake Oaks at approximately 5:40 p.m. Monday.
The fire burned a small area of grass and caused damage to a wood fence next to the Eskaton Clearlake Oaks Manor Senior Apartments, according to Paulich.
Cal Fire investigators also responded to the scene, determining the fire to be case of arson, Paulich said.
Paulich said the fire investigators identified Miravalle as the suspect. He had been seen in the area of the fire just prior to it starting and also is an arson registrant.
Lake County Sheriff’s Major Crimes detectives worked cooperatively with Cal Fire investigators and Paulich said their work led to Miravalle’s Thursday afternoon arrest.
During an interview with investigators, Miravalle admitted to starting the fire on Monday. Paulich said he also admitted to being responsible for starting two other fires in Clearlake Oaks in June.
Paulich said those earlier fires were located in the area of Oak Grove Avenue and Highway 20 on June 23 and behind the Dollar General store in Clearlake Oaks on June 27.
Miravalle was booked into custody on charges of aggravated arson with a prior, arson, unlawfully causing a fire and a probation violation, Paulich said. Miravelle remains in custody on a no-bail hold due to the probation violation.
Jail records show that Miravalle is scheduled to be in Lake County Superior Court on Monday.
Miravalle’s arrest is the latest in a series of arson arrests authorities have made over the summer.
They include the July 27 arrest of Adam Joseph Miller, 28, of Clearlake, who authorities believe set a fire that same day that burned in the field behind Cache Creek Apartments, and near the Tractor Supply and Big 5 Sporting Goods stores in Clearlake.
Miller remains in custody at the Lake County Jail with bail set at $50,000. He’s set to return to Lake County Superior Court on Nov. 5, based on his booking records.
On July 28, a Cal Fire law enforcement officer arrested Kristina Loraine Doll, 25, of Clearlake, who is charged with setting a fire earlier that day at Highway 20 and Rancho Vista Road in Lucerne.
Passersby and firefighters quickly knocked down the 10-foot by 10-foot roadside spot before it could do any serious damage.
Like Miller, Doll has remained in custody since her arrest. She’s being held in the Lake County Jail, with bail set at $50,000. She’s due to be back in court on Oct. 16, according to jail records.
In another fire-related case, Jody Buck Hickey, 40, of Kelseyville was arrested for causing the Oak fire due to equipment use on Sept. 7 near Kelseyville.
The Oak fire burned 53 acres and one outbuilding, threatened many other structures and led to the evacuation of 300 people.
Authorities said Hickey was welding and grinding in dry grass, which sparked the fire.
Hickey was arrested for the penal code section that covers “reckless burning,” not arson. Penal Code 452(c) states that a person is guilty of unlawfully causing a fire when he recklessly sets fire to or burns or causes to be burned any structure, forest land or property.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Rich Hinchcliff said Hickey had been set for a preliminary hearing on Wednesday morning but his attorney had asked for more time to prepare.
The preliminary hearing for Hickey, who since his arrested posted bail and was released, has been rescheduled for Oct. 28, Hinchcliff said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.