Glendale : Transients Blamed in Fire
A group of transients living on the second floor of a Glendale office building appears to be responsible for a fire that gutted the inside of a vacant office last week, officials said.
The fire, which started about 8 a.m. Friday, caused an estimated $50,000 in damage to the three-story CalFed building at 158 S. Brand Blvd.
An empty office was gutted, and the second and third floors sustained smoke damage. The bank, which is headquartered on the first floor, was not damaged although its opening was delayed several hours.
Fire investigators believe the blaze was started by some of the approximately 20 transients living in the vacant offices on the second floor of the building. However, Assistant Fire Chief Chris Gray said investigators do not know whether the men were using a portable heater or actually started an open fire to keep warm.
Although about six people were in the building at the time the fire broke out, none of them were injured. No arrests were made.
Gray said officials are trying to determine how the men got into the building.
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