Possible Link in Series of School Fires Probed
Investigators are probing whether an arson fire Wednesday at a Pasadena elementary school is linked to a string of earlier school fires, including one at a local high school on New Year’s Eve.
The fire, set late at night, heavily damaged a classroom bungalow and burned an adjoining portable classroom at Allendale Elementary School. Damage was estimated at more than $190,000. There were no injuries. Students at the school remain on break until Monday, so the fire caused no disruption of classroom routine.
On New Year’s Eve, a similar fire burned a portable classroom at the Pasadena Continuation High School. Each fire was started with copying machine solution.
Fire Department Capt. Calvin Wells said the two fires appear to be connected and may be related to a few other school fires in the area.
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