PORT HUENEME : Arson Suspected in Silver Strand Fires

Eight suspected arson fires were set early Wednesday morning in the Silver Strand Beach area near Port Hueneme, authorities said.

All the fires were set in residents’ trash cans between 3:15 a.m. and 5:20 a.m., said Peter Cronk, an investigator with the Ventura County Fire Department. No one was hurt, he said.

Authorities are looking for an arsonist who they believe is responsible for 16 fires in the neighborhood since mid-October, Cronk said.

The arsonist has set fire to two boats, a pickup truck, a vacant office and numerous trash cans, Cronk said. He declined to reveal what the arsonist uses to ignite the fires.

“We’re assuming it’s someone local, which narrows it down to several thousand people,” Cronk said. No one has seen the arsonist, and authorities have no clues about his or her identity, he said.

Silver Strand Beach residents are putting out a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the arsonist, Cronk said.

Fire officials have met with residents to warn them about the arsonist, he said. Some neighbors have installed motion detectors at their homes and keep cameras ready so they can take pictures of suspects, he said.

“We have a lot of anxious people out there,” Cronk said.