WESTMINSTER : Restaurant Fire Was Arson, Officials Say
A fire that caused $1-million in damages to a Westminster restaurant earlier this week was deliberately set, investigators said Thursday.
“This one was very obvious,” Westminster Fire Marshal Don Tully said. “There was a large amount of flammable liquid, probably gasoline, pretty much all over the inside of the restaurant.”
The blaze broke out after 1 a.m. Monday at Texas Loosey’s Chili Parlor & Saloon in the 14000 block of Beach Boulevard.
The restaurant was closed at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported. Three dozen firefighters from four cities brought the fire under control in about 45 minutes.
“The outside looks fine,” Tully said. “But the inside--it’s totally gutted.”
Investigators said there were no witnesses, which makes the case more difficult to prosecute. Only about 10% of all arson cases end in arrests, Tully said. Of those arrested, he said, less than 1% are convicted.
“Unless you have someone who actually saw somebody go in and light that match,” he said, “everything is circumstantial.”
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