Hollister
– County fire crews responded to two suspected arson fires this
week that destroyed an abandoned home and seven vehicles, causing
at least $35,000 in damage, CalFire reported.
Hollister – County fire crews responded to two suspected arson fires this week that destroyed an abandoned home and seven vehicles, causing at least $35,000 in damage, CalFire reported.
The first suspected arson happened Tuesday night when seven vehicles parked at an automotive shop on Park Central Drive were destroyed, according to CalFire. The second suspected arson fire was Wednesday night, burning an abandoned home to its foundation in the 1700 block of Wright Road, CalFire reported.
The home had been abandoned for at least six years, a neighbor said. Investigators had determined arson was the cause, CalFire Capt. Jim Dellamonica said Thursday.
No one was injured in either fire, Dellamonica said, and there are no suspects.
Fire crews responded to vehicle fires in the parking lot of Benson Automotive Service at 10:30pm Tuesday, firefighters said.
Don Rovella, co-owner of Benson Automotive Service, arrived at the business Tuesday night to see the burning vehicles.
“You see that in the movies, not in real life,” Rovella said.
In all, seven cars were destroyed and an eighth suffered minor damage. The total amount of damage is estimated at $25,000, Rovella said.
“That’s not counting the parking lot,” Rovella said. “They just resurfaced the asphalt.”
Rovella said he believed the arson attack was just a prank and he hopes he was not targeted.
A security system was being installed when the attack happened, and cameras should be in place shortly, the owner said. The business has insurance, he said.
“I’ve been here 10 years in the shop and we’ve never had anything happen,” Rovella said.
Rovella commended the firefighters for a quick response.
Across San Felipe Road, fire crews responded to an abandoned house fire at about 9pm Wednesday in the 1700 block of Wright Road, according to CalFire.
When firefighters arrived, the home was completely engulfed in flames, Dellamonica said. Firefighters extinguished the blaze with 90 minutes, he said. The fire burned the structure to its foundation.
“It was contained (when firefighters arrived) because it was out in the middle of a field,” Dellamonica said. “It wasn’t going anywhere.”
John O’Brien, who owns the house, said it has been vacated for about six years. He said he had forgotten about the structure.
“As a matter of fact, I was going to have to tear it down,” O’Brien said.
Josephine Quintero, who lives just down the road from the house, said she alerted firefighters to the blaze Wednesday night.
Quintero said she has seen people using the house for years.
“A lot of the homeless used to go there,” Quintero said.
