Fresno: School Arson Investigation Nabs Child Suspect

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Fresno: School Arson Investigation Nabs Child Suspect

Boy, 10, among suspects in arson at Farmdale Elementary School

Merced, Calif. (KFSN) -- Merced police arrested three boys Tuesday afternoon. They're accused of intentionally setting a fire at an elementary school, one of the young suspects is a student at the campus

The fire broke out inside a classroom at Farmdale Elementary School on Winder and La Mesa. The three suspects authorities were looking for are younger than they anticipated. Two of them are 14, and one of them, a 10-year-old boy and a current student at the school.

Lt. Tom Trindad said, "They went inside and threw some graffiti up on the walls using paint that was in the classroom and of course they set a fire inside of it."

Firefighters were alerted to the flames when a burglary alarm went off around 1:30 in the morning, followed by a fire alarm.

Merced Fire Chief Mike Mclaughlin said, "Our crews initiated fire attack and it had been burning for a moderate amount of time."

The flames destroyed books and desks, water damaged nearby rooms and the incident forced the library, science and computer lab to close for the day.

Farmdale Elementary School Principal Kathy Moser said, "We had one class that had to be moved and a few other intervention classes, but business is going on as normal, the kids are flexible and the teachers have been very very cooperative."

Police say a security camera captured the three suspects break into the classroom, ransack it and light a small area on fire.

"Fortunately there was nobody on the campus which would have made it more serious, but still the property damage of course and then you have to think of first responders that go out there," said Lt. Tom Trindad. "There are firefighters that put their life on the line to stop the spread of that fire and of course we have a big concern for them."

Officials are also concerned for the students who may learn one of their classmates is accused of committing the crime at their campus.

Lt. Tom Trindad added, "Kids want to feel safe at school and somebody damages or breaks into a school that makes them feel less safe."

Officials are taking this very seriously. Firefighters say the fire caused $30 thousand in damages, but could've been much worse if it weren't for the sprinkler system.

The two 14-year-olds were booked into juvenile hall, and the 10-year-old was released to his parents. The school says a restoration company will work through spring break to clean up the campus.

Modified Source: http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&utm_medium=referral&id=9042163
Twitter tweet: https://twitter.com/FresnoDaily/status/316787580899307520

CFN - California Fire News 2013

No comments:

How fires get their names

Every year in California thousands of wildfires start throughout the state. In most cases, the dispatch center sending the initial resources to a wildland fire will designate a name for the fire, but the first on scene engine or fire official can also name the incident. Fires are usually named for the area in which they start – a geographical location, local landmark, street, lake, mountain, peak, etc. Quickly naming the fire provides responding fire resources with an additional locater, and allows fire officials to track and prioritize incidents by name. For example during the Southern California Fire Siege of 2003, the largest wildland fire in California history, the Cedar Fire in San Diego County, was named after the Cedar Creek Falls area where it started. The destructive Old Fire, which burned during the same time period in San Bernardino County, was named after the road along which it started - Old Waterman Canyon Road.

CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States. CDF - CAL FIRE Firefighters answer the call more than 300,000 times a year. CAL FIRE Firefighters make up the fire department for 30 of our 58 counties in California and more than 100 local communities. We serve as the incident command during many of California’s most serious disasters. CAL FIRE Firefighters respond to many various types and forms of calls ranging from structural fires, to auto accidents, to earthquakes, to floods, to the spilling of hazardous materials, to every conceivable disaster; CAL FIRE answer's the calls. CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States . CAL FIRE firefighters protect 33 million acres of State Responsibility Area (SRA). We have over 4,000 members within CAL FIRE and CAL FIRE is associated with the California Professional Firefighters (CPF) and the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF).

CFN - CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS - CAL FIRE NEWS

Tuesday, March 26, 2013