VENTURA : Medical Center Roof Fire Investigated
Police are investigating a small fire that damaged the roof of the Family Planning Associates Medical Group in Ventura.
The arson-caused fire was reported at the clinic at 1560 E. Thompson Blvd., about 5:30 p.m. Sunday. When firefighters arrived they found the fire on one area of the roof, although no smoke was visible from the street.
The flames caused little damage, but firefighters had to knock out a 4-by-4-foot section of the roof to make sure the fire had not spread into the attic.
Ventura Police Lt. Brad Talbot said investigators have no suspects and no one was seen placing the incendiary object on the roof.
The fire was started by a flare bundled with a flammable object that investigators suspect may have been a quick-starting fireplace log.
The center, where abortions are performed, has been a demonstration site in the past. Talbot said he was not aware of any threats received recently by the clinic.
“We haven’t had anybody call to claim responsibility for doing that,” he said.
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