Tad Patrick MooreMADERA COUNTY, Calif. (KMPH) -
A Southern California man has been arrested, accused of setting at least two fires in Madera County.
48-year-old Tad Patrick Moore, of Hollywood, remains behind bars facing arson charges.
According to reports, Moore was last seen in the area roughly a year ago when he set his parent's property on fire, said Madera County Sheriff's spokeswoman Erica Stuart.
Moore was arrested in Fresno in June on suspicion of arson but was released a few weeks later. That's when he was spotted in Madera County.
Late Thursday afternoon, firefighters battled a fire off Highway 41 north of Bellview Road.
On Friday morning, crews were sent scrambling to a second fire approximately a quarter mile north of Yosemite Springs Parkway off Highway 41 in Coarsegold.
Based on the description of the accused arsonist -- who at one time lived in Ahwahnee -- deputies had a good idea as to who he was, Stuart said.
Later in the morning, as deputies were responding to a call on Highway 49, a sergeant saw Moore walking on the roadway near Oakhurst.
Moore took off running, but the sergeant caught up with him and arrested him, Stuart said.
The sheriff's department says no one was hurt in either fire, and no homes were damaged.
Moore is being held on $50,000 bail.
