“When a team of law enforcement officers from different agencies work together to investigate a crime and locate a potential suspect, they bring their expertise and experiences, including knowledge of the areas they patrol.  All of this helps to protect the public from people whose intent it is to cause harm.”

CSLEA President Alan Barcelona

SAN LUIS OBISPO – On September 8, 2026, at approximately 4:30 p.m., the San Luis Obispo Fire Department (SLOFD) was dispatched to a reported brush fire along the Bob Jones Trail, just north of Los Osos Valley Road. The grass fire spread onto City property and several stored vehicles were also burned.

During fire suppression efforts, SLOFD requested assistance from the San Luis Obispo Police Department (SLOPD) due to suspicious circumstances surrounding the fire. SLOFD investigators and SLOPD arson investigators determined the fire appeared to have been intentionally set.

With assistance from California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) officers and the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office, a person of interest was initially located and detained, but later released. SLOPD detectives assumed the investigation.

Through follow-up investigative efforts, detectives identified John Rorabough as a suspect in the crime.  Rorabough is unhoused and known to frequent the area, according to SLOPD.

On September 10, 2026, police officers located Rorabough and arrested him without incident. Rorabough was booked into the San Luis Obispo County Jail for California Penal Code section 451(c), arson of a structure or forest land, and Penal Code section 451(d), arson of property, both felony offenses.

This case is still under investigation.