The group had been recreating in the area for several hours and at one point started a fire at a campsite, which fire investigators were able to determine was the origin of the wildfire, the affidavits say. Police say they recovered evidence near the site of the fire that showed people "had been at this location and had left abruptly."

Police made contact with the four people and interviewed them. "They stated that after being at this location, they had made attempts to extinguish the fire, and then left the scene," the affidavits say.

Jacobson said one rationale for releasing information about the four arrests Sunday was to calm any public angst about so many fires erupting at once.

“Given the dynamics of all these fires popping up at the same time, there would be concerns there was a single entity, perhaps maliciously behind these fires, and that’s not the case,” he said. “While it is tragic and heartbreaking for those being held culpable, at this point, it was an accident. The other relief of telling the story is these aren’t arsons, these aren’t malicious starts. That’s a concern also.”