Teen arrested as suspect in Costa Mesa weekend arson spree

Costa Mesa police have arrested a teenager on suspicion of setting seven small fires over the weekend, authorities said.

From Saturday night to Sunday evening, Costa Mesa firefighters doused flames at various locations, including a car dealership, a car wash and offices for the Coastline Community College District.

Police did not release the 13-year-old’s identity, saying only that he was a Costa Mesa resident and had been placed in juvenile hall after being arrested near the scene of one fire.

The rash of suspected arsons started about 11 p.m. Saturday, when firefighters doused a Dumpster fire in a shopping center at 1500 Adams Ave., police said.

Immediately after that, fire crews headed to the Honda dealership at 2888 Harbor Blvd., where a small tree and some debris had been set ablaze, police said.

Later that night, crews doused another fire at the Metro Car Wash at 2950 Harbor Blvd., where part of the building’s exterior burned, police said.

Then about 11:30 a.m. Sunday, firefighters rushed to a business at 1520 Ponderosa St. to find a parked motor home burning, according to authorities. No one was inside the motor home and the small blaze was quickly extinguished.

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Firefighters then headed to the Costa Mesa Square shopping center at 3030 Harbor Blvd., where some landscaping had been set aflame. But, police said, by the time responders arrived, a passerby had thrown water on the blaze.

Next, crews responded to debris on fire near a home’s fence at 2925 Redwood Ave., according to authorities. They quickly put out the flames. The home was not damaged, police said.

Finally, firefighters doused a large tree and some landscaping that had been set aflame at the Coast Community College District headquarters at 1370 Adams Ave., police said.

Soon after the last fire was extinguished, arson investigators and police arrested the 13-year-old about a block away. Police declined to release additional details because the investigation is continuing.

No injuries were reported in any of the blazes, according to the Fire Department. An estimate of the total amount of damage wasn’t immediately available.

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