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Arrest made in string of grass fires set along Longmont trail

Posted at 6:17 PM, Jul 31, 2017
and last updated 2017-08-01 01:07:45-04

LONGMONT, Colo. – Police in Longmont arrested a man Monday in connection to a string of grass fires along a footpath Sunday night. 

Authorities accuse Joshua Bolt, 39, of setting seven grass fires in the span of an hour along a two-mile stretch of the St. Vrain Greenway between Hover and Main streets.

Some of the fires came close to area businesses, including Left Hand Brewery. No serious damage was reported.

After employees called the police, they ran outside and tried to stop the fire from spreading with a garden hose.

"So, we grabbed a hose, and started hosing it down ourselves until the fire department came," said Kali Miller, an employee at the popular brewery.

Investigators talked to several witnesses along the trail Monday before an arrest was made. Police also spent the day patrolling the trail, trying to get additional information.

Bolt is facing seven counts of second-degree arson charges and was booked into the Boulder County Jail.

Police have not linked Bolt to other arson fires that have plagued the city in recent months. Several vehicles were set ablaze in June and early July. No arrests have been made in those cases.

"At this point, we don’t believe or don’t have enough information to say they’re the same person, but it is something we’re aware of, and we’re looking into to see if there’s a connection," said Deputy Chief Jeff Satur with the Longmont Police Department.