SAN FRANCISCO—On Wednesday, April 1, the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) arrested Mark Major, 54, in connection to a series of intentionally set fires in the Northern Police District.
The SFPD’s Special Investigations Division Arson Task Force started the investigation in November 2019, where Major was identified as a person of interest. On Monday, March 30, plainclothes officers from the Northern Station searched the region for Major.
Around 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, officers followed Majors to Alamo Square Park where he ignited a fire against a restroom building structure. After the suspect fled the scene, officers started extinguishing the fire before the San Francisco Fire Department arrived on the scene.
A plainclothes officer continued to follow the suspect into the park and witnessed him setting a second fire. Major started to flee the scene once again but, with the help of a second officer, he was taken into custody. Officers seized the items the suspect used to ignite the fires and established a crime scene.
The SFPD booked Major on felony arson charges including setting a structure on fire, willful and malicious setting a fire by distributing combustible or flammable substances on a structure or forest land, and possession of flammable or combustible incendiary devices with the willful and malicious intent to set fire to a structure or forest land.
Major has been linked to two vehicle fires from February. One fire on February 15 around 10 p.m. on the 400 block of Hickory Street, and the other fire on February 21 around 9:20 p.m. at Linden and Laguna Streets.
Major’s booking photo hasn’t been released due to pending identification matters. The investigation remains open despite an arrest. Investigators continue to search for other arson incidents Major may be responsible for. Anyone with information is asked to contact the SFPD. Tipsters may remain anonymous.
