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