Anaheim : Arson Causes $170,000 Damage at Salvage Yards

Arson has been listed as the cause of early morning fires at two salvage yards that caused a total of $170,000 damage Sunday, firefighters said.

The blazes may have been started by the same arsonist, but no connection has yet been determined, said Anaheim Fire Capt. Bob Greathead.

The first fire occurred just after midnight at the Orange County Scrap and Recycling Center, 919 E. South St. The flames leaped about 40 feet high, fed by bales of newspaper and scrap paper in an area about 120 feet by 50 feet, Greathead said. Damage was estimated at $100,000.

The fire was spotted by Anaheim police on patrol in a helicopter, according to a fire dispatcher.

Greathead said firefighters controlled the blaze quickly, but that “something like this is so deep-seated, it doesn’t go anywhere. But it takes hours and hours to get it out.”

While firefighters were battling the blaze, they spotted smoke coming from the second fire, about half a mile away at VIP Rubber Co., 1021 E. Arlee Place, at 2 a.m., Greathead said.

The rubber and pressed plastic products consumed at the second salvage yard sent up a thick cloud of smoke, Greathead said. That fire caused $50,000 damage to materials and $20,000 to the structure, he said.

Investigators were at both scenes all day Sunday as firefighters cleaned up the mess with bulldozers, Greathead said.

Firefighters responded to the first blaze with two battalion chiefs, five engines, one truck company and two bulldozers to knock down flames and keep them from spreading, Greathead said.

The second fire was battled with four engine companies and one truck, he said.