Arson Destroys Dentist’s Office in Laguna Hills Shopping Center

Arsonists torched a dentist’s office here early Saturday morning, and the blaze spread to three other businesses in a shopping center here.

Officials said they see no connection between the 2:30 a.m. blaze and the Los Angeles riots.

“It was definitely arson, but we get these kind of idiots all the time,” said Capt. Dan Young, spokesman for the County Fire Department. “It’s not related to the civil disturbances in Los Angeles.”

The blaze in the shopping center at Alicia Parkway and Paseo de Valencia caused damage estimated at $330,000. No injuries were reported.

Young said witnesses saw three men in their mid-20s in a car in front of the dentist’s office just before the blaze. “We’re seeking those men for questioning,” he said.

The dentist, Dr. Anthony D’Addario, said Saturday afternoon that he has no idea why someone set his office afire, but he also sees no tie to the riots.

“It wasn’t related to up there,” he said. “I don’t want people to get the wrong idea.”

Young said flammable liquid, “probably gasoline,” was used to ignite the front of D’Addario’s office. The blaze then spread to a travel office, a hairstyling shop and a store formerly used as a yogurt shop.

Young said the fire destroyed D’Addario’s office and an adjoining travel agency, while the hairstyling shop and empty store were less severely damaged. Firefighters controlled the blaze in about 25 minutes and prevented it from spreading to a big Alpha Beta supermarket and other adjoining businesses, Young said.

D’Addario said he had maintained his office there for nine years. “I got all my charts out, and I was really concerned about that,” he said.

Ahmed Saleh, the owner of the travel agency, also said he salvaged client files.