Officials Seek Man Who Set Guitar Shop Fire
Orange County Fire Authority investigators are asking for the public’s help in searching for a man who apparently used a container of lighter fluid to start a fire at a Lake Forest guitar shop nearly a year ago.
The man used the lighter fluid to start a fire in the warehouse behind the Guitar Shop on El Toro Road on Nov. 24, 1999, authorities said.
Fire Authority Capt. Paul Hunter said investigators believe the arsonist bought the lighter fluid at a Ralphs grocery store the day of the fire.
A security camera photo from a Ralphs in Irvine shows a white male with dark hair, dressed in dark clothes and holding the container of lighter fluid. Hunter would not disclose why they believe the man in the tape and the man who started the fire are the same person.
Investigators are not sure why the fire was started.
“There’s a variety of reasons why folks set places on fire, we’re just not sure,” Hunter said.
The fire caused about $200,000 in damage, mostly to musical instruments and other equipment in the warehouse, Hunter said. No injuries were reported.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Fire Authority at (714) 289-6526.
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