Con Fire and Concord PD arrest suspect in Concord RV Arson

Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire) announced today the arrest of a suspect in the recreational vehicle (RV) fire that burned under Highway 4 in Concord earlier this week. The fire in question took place June 8, 2020, with the first call coming in at 3:27 p.m. An investigation was immediately conducted by the District’s Fire Investigations Unit, and Concord Police with a suspect identified and arrest made without incident on June 8 just after 5 p.m.

Arrested was Jade McCoy, a Concord-area transient, date of birth April 22, 1993. McCoy, who was on probation from a previous arson conviction for setting an exterior fire in 2019, was arrested after investigation by FIU and Concord PD revealed she intentionally set the fire in the RV. McCoy and her boyfriend had been living in the RV parked on Port Chicago Highway under Highway 4. The arson occurred after a verbal altercation between the two parties. Her possible involvement in other recent fires in the area is currently under investigation.

McCoy is in custody in the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Detention Center in Martinez. Concord Police filed the case with the District Attorney on June 9 and action is pending.

Investigation revealed a woman seen at the scene around the time of the fire to be the likely responsible party. A short while later, around 5 p.m., Concord Police located the suspect in the vicinity near Olivera Road and Esperanza Drive. Con Fire FIU investigators responded to that scene, interviewed the suspect and determined she was responsible for the blaze, placing her under arrest. She was handcuffed and transported to the Martinez Detention Facility by Concord Police where she was again interviewed by FIU.

The RV fire was initially reported by several parties beginning just before 3:30 p.m. on June 8. Arriving on scene moments later at 3:41, Con Fire’s Battalion Chief 2 reported a fully involved RV on fire under the highway.

In all, 21 fire personnel from Con Fire and the Military Ocean Terminal, Concord’s Federal Fire Department responded to the fire with two Type 1 fire engines, three Type 3 fire engines, two ambulances, a medical supervisor and a fire investigator. Concord Police and the California Highway Patrol also responded to the scene. At 3:42 p.m., the incident commander reported the fire under control.

There were no injuries to responding personnel or civilians.