By Ashley Mackin | SDUN Editor
A fire at Alice Birney Elementary School at 4345 Campus Ave. marks the fourth arson-related fire in University Heights in less than one month. On Jan. 16, San Diego Fire and Rescue (SDFR) was called to the school for a two-alarm fire.
Though unrelated, a Kingdom Hall for Jehovah’s Witnesses in University Heights experienced three arson attempts, which took place on Dec. 20, 2011, Dec. 30, 2011, and Jan. 3.
In the elementary school fire, police identified several places where an ignitable liquid was poured and lit. SDFR Public Information Officer Maurice Luque said two locations were the auditorium and office area. He also confirmed some of the liquid ignited and some did not.
SDFR officers received a call of a ringing alarm at the school at 11:45 p.m. When officers arrived, they saw heavy fire and smoke coming from the office area windows and doors, Luque said.
Luque explained officers had the fire “knocked down,” or under control, in approximately 20 minutes. “During the course of the knock-down, just as a precaution, they asked for a second alarm, which means there were four additional engines and two trucks [called] just in case the fire got into the walls and they didn’t realize it,” Luque said. “If it had been spreading we’d want people there right away, but that didn’t happen.”
There was a total of $600,000 in damages to the school, with $500,000 in damage to the structure and $100,000 in damaged content.
Luque said there is no perceived connection to the arson fires at the Kingdom Hall. “There is… no evidence, no witness testimony [and] no reasoning that’s based on fact that connects this to any other fire. That’s not to say that potentially they could be connected, we just don’t have any evidence of that at this point in time,” he said.
Principal Amanda Hammond Williams said in a press release, “All materials for the before-school and after-school programs were lost in the blaze.”
District 3 Councilmember Todd Gloria said, “I am devastated by the arson at Birney Elementary. But the school, its students and its faculty and staff will come back even better than before. The community can help make that happen by donating necessary items.”
To make a monetary donation online, visit friendsofalicebirney.org. Because of the ongoing investigation and clean up work at the school, school officials are asking the community not to bring item donations directly to the school.
The Metro Arson Strike Team is investigating this case. Additionally, Councilmember Gloria is encouraging anyone who saw anything suspicious near the school late in the evening of Jan. 16, to call San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477 or send an anonymous text or web tip at sdcrimestoppers.com. A reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible. Tips may lead to a reward of up to $10,000. The Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is offering an additional reward of $5,000 for information.
The school reopened and classes resumed on Jan. 18.
