Witnesses say a man deliberately lit a brush fire in a field behind the Walmart on Camino Arroyo in unincorporated Gilroy on June 9, setting off a short but tense scramble by firefighters and deputies that ended with a suspect in cuffs nearby. Crews kept the blaze to about a 10-by-10-foot patch, and no injuries were reported. Authorities say the arrest happened on Valley Water property near the intersection of Camino Arroyo and Gilman Road.
According to the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, witnesses reported the man intentionally started the fire, then ran off before deputies arrived. The post states that the Santa Clara County Fire Department and Gilroy Fire quickly contained the flames and that deputies believe the same person set three fires in the area. Deputies and Gilroy police responded while fire crews knocked down the small blaze.
ARSONIST ARRESTED: On June 9, witnesses reported a man intentionally starting a small brush fire in a field behind the @Walmart on Camino Arroyo in unincorporated Gilroy. Sheriff’s deputies and @GilroyPD officers responded, but the suspect ran off before they arrived.… pic.twitter.com/1zGuH9Eic6
— SantaClaraCoSheriff (@SCCoSheriff) June 23, 2026
Arrest and Investigation
Sheriff’s deputies later arrested a suspect on Valley Water property at Camino Arroyo and Gilman Road. In the social media post, the agency told followers that the man was responsible for setting three fires in the area. The department did not list specific charges or booking details, and investigators say the case remains active. Officials are asking anyone with information or video from the scene to contact deputies so investigators can follow up.
Where It Happened
The burned field sits directly behind the Walmart along the busy Camino Arroyo commercial stretch, next to the store at 7150 Camino Arroyo. The spot is a short drive from Gilman Road and Highway 152, placing the charred patch near public access points and Valley Water land. Even relatively small, quickly contained fires like this one can threaten parked vehicles or nearby buildings if the wind shifts or conditions are dry…