San Rafael, CA – Police are searching for a person of interest, identified as James Thomas Duffy, a 42-year-old San Rafael resident, in connection with a series of fires that are currently being investigated as arson.

Starting at 5:17 AM, the San Rafael Police Department began receiving 911 calls regarding a series of fires in the Canal Neighborhood of San Rafael.  The first fire was reported in the area Hoag Street and Canal Street.  Police officers and the San Rafael Fire Department arrived to find a dumpster on fire that had also spread to a nearby vehicle.  No one was injured.

At 5:24 AM, another 911 call was received reporting a dumpster fire in the unit block of Mill Street.  Officers and the fire department arrived and the fire was extinguished.  The fire was isolated to just the dumpster.

At 5:28 AM, a 911 call was received reporting a fire in the unit block of Canal Street.  The fire was a small debris fire and was quickly extinguished.

At 5:31 AM, a 911 call was received reporting a small debris fire in the area of Canal Street and Larkspur Street.  That fire was extinguished.

At 5:45 AM, Officers responded to a request for a welfare check at an apartment complex in the area of Medway Road and Canal Street.  Officers arrived on the scene and a neighboring tenant reported smelling smoke from the apartment where the welfare check was requested.  Officers found that the front door was warm to the touch and observed smoke coming from the roofline.  The San Rafael Fire Department responded and was able to isolate and extinguish the fire to just the single unit.  No one was found inside and no one was injured.  The apartment complex had been evacuated as a precaution and people were allowed back into their respective apartments once the fire was under control.  No one was displaced.

At 5:49 AM, another 911 call was received reporting a dumpster fire near a supermarket in the 300 block of Bellam Boulevard.  That fire was quickly extinguished and was localized to just the dumpster.

All six fires are being investigated as arson.  San Rafael Police, San Rafael Fire Department, along with the Marin County Sheriff’s Office UAV Team are actively searching for James Thomas Duffy.  SRPD is asking for the public’s assistance in locating Duffy.  The public can call the San Rafael Police Department and we are advising individuals to keep their distance and not engage with Duffy.  Duffy’s photograph has been attached to this press release.

This investigation is active and ongoing.