Arson Team Probes Cause of Blaze that Gutted 4 Poway Winery Sheds
Arson investigators are seeking the cause of a blaze that destroyed four storage buildings Sunday at a winery in Poway.
The San Diego Sheriff’s Department arson investigation unit listed the fire as suspicious in origin.
Firefighters responded at 4:31 a.m. to the Bernardo Winery at 13330 Paseo del Verona Norte in Poway and found four storage buildings at the facility’s north end engulfed in flames, according to arson unit Sgt. Conrad Grayson.
The storage buildings and their contents were destroyed. Damage was estimated at $40,000. No injuries were reported.
Ross Rizzo, the winery’s owner, said the storage buildings contained mostly old books and typewriters and that no wine was destroyed.
Rizzo said the fire did not reach the facility’s shops, restaurant and wine and olive oil producing sections.
“(The fire investigators) have not told me much about what started the fire,” Rizzo said. “They have been pretty confidential about it.”
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