Fire to home considered arson Fire investigators...
Fire to home considered arson
Fire investigators from three cities, with help from a fire dog,
determined that the 8,000-square-foot home that caught fire in Irvine
Cove last week was caused by arson.
The oceanfront home, which was in the framing stage of
construction, sustained $200,000 in damages. Firefighters stopped the
fire about an hour after it was reported at 3:29 a.m., before it
could spread to two neighboring houses valued at $2 million each.
“We’re actively looking at quite a few people with various motives
for wanting the home destroyed,” Laguna Beach police Sgt. Jason
Kravetz said.
Kravetz said the house was fully engulfed when police and
firefighters responded to the call, made by a driver on her cell
phone.
The Laguna Beach Fire Department received reports that no
construction workers had been on the site for at least a couple days
and the utilities to the structure were not connected. The fire was
immediately classified as “suspicious.”
Five arson investigators, two from Laguna Beach, two from Costa
Mesa and one from Anaheim (and his dog), found enough evidence to
call the fire an arson.
Anyone with information about the fire should call Det. Andy Peck
at (949) 497-0370.
18 graduate from Citizen Academy
Eighteen Lagunans graduated from the Laguna Beach Police
Department Citizen Academy on Wednesday, bringing the number of the
academy’s alumni to 161.
The 12-week, stress-free course is designed to provide community
members with a better understanding of the police department and
improve communication between police personnel and citizens.
Graduates from the eighth class are Ellen Bauman, Susan Dexter,
TuRae Fazio, Amy Hellewell, Nancy Pink, Frank Ricchiazzi, Stephen
Darden, Jim Doria, Dawn Garner, Teri Iannotti, Howard Pink, Terry
Smith, Silvio Deligatta, Art Elswood, Sam Hall, Michel Melki, David
Pope and Thomas Walsh.
The academy offers a tour of the police facility, patrol vehicles
and equipment used in the department. Students also get time shooting
in the police firing range and participating in mock scenarios.
The next Citizen Academy will begin Aug. 27, with Aug. 18 the
deadline for submitting applications. Call Sgt. Darin Lenyi at (949)
497-0750, ext. 230 for questions about joining the academy.
-- Mike Swanson
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