A Colorado man faces arson charges following an investigation into a summer wildfire that destroyed 29 homes and caused over $30 million in property damage, authorities announced on Wednesday.
Jason Alexander Hobby, 49, was arrested on Tuesday, according to Larimer County Sheriff John Feyen. He appeared in court on Wednesday, charged with first-degree arson related to the fire, which ignited at a guest ranch where he worked, located west of Loveland, about 60 miles (97 kilometers) north of Denver.
Hobby’s bail was set at $450,000.
The fire started on July 29 when it spread from a fire ring on the ranch, Feyen said. Whether the fire was set intentionally or accidentally remains unclear. The wildfire, which burned across 15 square miles (39 square kilometers), destroyed 21 outbuildings, damaged four additional homes, and was not fully contained until August 17.
District Attorney Gordon McLaughlin informed the court that firefighting efforts cost over $11 million.
Hobby lost his job at the guest ranch after being identified as a suspect in the fire, according to Feyen.
In addition to the arson charge, Hobby faces charges of impersonating a police officer, menacing, and false imprisonment. Investigators allege that in March 2023, he stopped travelers on the guest ranch property while driving an SUV designed to resemble a law enforcement vehicle. Hobby reportedly falsely identified himself as law enforcement, told the individuals they were trespassing, and pointed a firearm at them, one of the victims testified in court on Wednesday.
Hobby is also charged with two misdemeanor counts of impersonating a public official. During the wildfire, he allegedly used a pickup truck outfitted to look like a wildland firefighter vehicle to bypass checkpoints, Feyen said.
Initially, Hobby’s bail was set at $250,000, but McLaughlin requested it be raised to $1 million, citing concerns that Hobby might flee the area. He also mentioned that Hobby is under investigation for additional fires in Wyoming, though details about those incidents were not disclosed, and the affidavit remains sealed.
Read More: Apple Unveils iPhone 16
A public defender argued unsuccessfully to keep the bail at $250,000, stating that Hobby runs his own business and lives in Loveland with his wife.
Hobby’s next court appearance is scheduled for September 24.
