Arson Suspected in Billiards Parlor Fire

Officials suspect a fire that gutted a billiards parlor and damaged a Chamber of Commerce office last week was deliberately set.

“It is being investigated as arson,” Deputy Gary Sloan of the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s arson unit said. “As far as motive or any suspects, nobody can tell you about that.”

Capt. Duane Lewis of Fire Station 144 in Westlake Village said gasoline was found at the scene, which is consistent with investigators’ initial belief that an explosion caused the fire. He said there is still no estimate of damage.

The blaze began at Sound of Billiards in the early morning of Sept. 26 at Thousand Oaks Boulevard and Lindero Canyon Road.

Employees of the Westlake Village chamber had celebrated one year of residence in the building a few days before the fire, which left their office with light water and smoke damage, according to Lewis. The staff plans to move into a nearby office in the same business complex.