Westminster : Family of 3 Escapes $50,000 Arson Blaze

A family of three narrowly escaped a fire at their home early Friday that was ignited by a flammable liquid and caused $50,000 damage, a fire official said.

The fire was set in three places around the home, said Westminster Fire Capt. Craig Campbell.

Michael Nguyen, 41, his wife and 10-year-old son were asleep in their home in the 14000 block of Ballou Street when the fire broke out at 3:50 a.m.

Campbell said Nguyen’s wife awoke, smelled smoke and screamed to her husband that their house was on fire. With flames already inside a nearby bedroom, they joined their son, ran to a window at the rear of their home and crawled out.

After making sure family members were safely outside, firefighters entered the burning house and rescued a family dog, which was found crouched in a corner, Campbell said.

He added that arson investigators interviewed Nguyen to try and find out whether he or any member of his family had been threatened by anyone. The incident raised concern among fire investigators, Campbell said.

“Usually, if someone wants to get someone’s attention, they burn their vehicles. Here . . . they were trying to kill him,” Campbell said.

Nguyen told investigators that two nights ago, he noticed a group of people in front of his house about midnight.

Investigators also were checking the trail of flammable liquid that was used to help start the fire, Campbell said.

The fire ran from outside the house, through a living room and into a bedroom, Campbell said.

Campbell said damage to the home included $30,000 to the structure and $20,000 to its contents.