Arsonists Caused ’85 Blazes : Investigations Stalled in 3 Worst Brush Fires

The three most devastating brush fires to hit the state in 1985 had one thing in common: arson.

Despite painstaking investigations and thousands of dollars in reward money, no arrests have been made in the Normal Heights fire in San Diego, the Baldwin Hills fire in Los Angeles and a blaze in and around the Northern California city of Los Gatos.

The fires occurred in a week’s span last summer.

Three persons died in the Baldwin Hills blaze, including the mother of a firefighter.

Nearly 150 homes were reduced to ashes, scores of others damaged and more than 14,000 acres burned in the series of fires that caused more than $22 million in damages.

Accidental Causes Ruled Out

San Diego fire investigators ruled out accidental causes soon after the June 30 blaze, but they are no closer to solving the case than they were six months ago.

“We have nothing solid, no license number or physical description. We really don’t have a lot of anything,” said Frank Barone of the San Diego Metro Arson Strike Team.

He holds out little hope of finding the person responsible for the worst residential fire in San Diego history.

“As time goes by, it’s going to be real difficult unless by some sort of miracle or freak accident we find the individual,” Barone said.

The San Diego Crime Stoppers program is offering a $1,000 reward in the case.

In addition, Gov. George Deukmejian is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to convictions in each of the three fires.

Investigations at Standstill

The investigations into the Los Gatos and Baldwin Hills fires are also at a standstill.

Los Angeles fire investigators recovered the remains of several road flares used to ignite the 10-acre Baldwin Hills firestorm.

Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Ed Reed said it is believed that the flares were thrown from a passing car into dry brush just off La Brea Avenue and the flames quickly spread up a hillside and engulfed the residential area.

“We talked to all the witnesses we could find,” Reed said. “Everything that sounded so promising at the outset has led us to a dead end. We have nothing to go on unless someone gives us new information.”

The Los Angeles City Council, consolidating the state reward money with other sources, has offered a $35,000 reward for an arrest and conviction in the Baldwin Hills fire, Reed said.

$15,550 Reward in Los Gatos Fire

A combination of local, state and private sources produced a reward of $15,550 in the Los Gatos area fire, said Angello Chancellor, a fire inspector with the Santa Clara County Central Fire Protection District.

Little progress has been made in the investigation, however.

“We haven’t come up with anything other than it was deliberately set,” Chancellor said.

Despite the lack of leads, Chancellor remains optimistic that the case will be solved.

“I’ve seen cases hang around a couple of years before the right witness, the right evidence comes around,” he said. “I’m confident we’ll eventually get the culprit or culprits responsible. . . . We’re in this for the long term.”