Apple Valley Firefighters Tackle 2 Suspected Arson Fires

APPLE VALLEY — Investigators are looking into the second fire at a local apartment complex this month, and they now believe both fires could be arson.

Around 7:20 p.m. Saturday a fire was reported in the 15300 block of Broken Bow Road, and emergency personnel from the Apple Valley Fire Protection District could only contain the blaze in two of the building’s eight units, said Division Chief Art Bishop.

Photo by Sarah Alvrado, VV Daily Press

Bishop called the complex — which he believes was in foreclosure and being handed back to an area bank —a complete loss.
“The fire is under investigation for suspicion of arson,” Bishop said.
The first of seven fire engines was at the location 12 minutes after it was reported, and firefighters remained at the location for over an hour, extinguishing and cleaning up remains of the fire, he said.

It was the second time firefighters were at the location this month. On Aug. 5, there was another blaze at the complex, which was unoccupied both times, said Fire Investigator Brian Pachman.
The two fires seemed strange to firefighters, who called for assistance from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s Bombs and Arson team.
“We never say ‘suspicious fire,’ but yeah, I’m thinking the other one could have been arson too,” Pachman said.

During the first fire, one of the units still had furniture in it, as residents had only been given notice to move some weeks earlier, investigators said. The fire on Saturday was in the same area, with units 7 and 8 being destroyed, Bishop said.

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