Vending Machines Set Ablaze
Investigators are searching for an arsonist who has set a series of vending machine fires at schools across Ventura County.
Thousand Oaks High School administrators called fire officials after 11 of their machines were burned Monday night, said Sandi Wells, a Ventura County Fire Department spokeswoman. Similar fires were also set Monday night at Thousand Oaks’ Colina Middle School and Westlake High School, Wells said. Schools in Ventura, Oxnard and Camarillo reported similar vending machine fires in the past week.
The fires were isolated to the machines, causing no damage to the surrounding buildings, Wells said. The blazes have been small and were extinguished quickly enough not to set off smoke alarms.
Wells urged anyone who sees unusual activity around school areas at night to contact police.
Meanwhile, fire investigators announced that a 20-acre blaze that broke out near the 250-student Villanova Preparatory School in Ojai Thursday was also intentionally set.
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