Two-Alarm Fire in Antioch Caused by Fireworks, Suspect Arrested

Fire officials arrested a man for a firework-caused fire Monday that destroyed eight apartment units and displaced 40 people in Antioch. The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District first received a report of a vegetation fire in a field behind the 1700 block of Hargrove Street at 5:30 p.m. High temperatures and 15-20 mph winds made the fire spread quickly onto the apartment building. The fire was extinguished by 6:26 p.m., but crews worked for three hours to prevent further damage. No firefighters were injured, and two people were treated for smoke inhalation. Video surveillance and interviews identified the suspect as 44-year-old James Sossaman. Fire officials say he threw an illegal, explosive firework into the field behind the apartment building, which sparked the fire. Upon further investigation, officials found other illegal fireworks and an unauthorized firearm in his apartment. Sossaman was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on suspicion of unlawfully causing a fire to inhabited structures and for possession of a firearm while on felony probation.